[.ca] Cahill: US Marshall

From Amazon.com:
After the late-career high of True Grit, only The Cowboys and The Shootist escaped the curse of half-baked scripts, recycled material, and lackadaisical filmmaking that characterized John Wayne's last half-dozen years in movies. Cahill is no exception, but it's more energetic than The Undefeated and Chisum (likewise nominally directed by Andrew V. McLaglen), with a certain Gothic tinge. Also, the theme of a dedicated professional who lets his job keep him from being part of his children's lives appears to have had some relevance for the producer-star. Marshal Cahill's two sons (Summer of '42's Gary Grimes and the preteen Clay O'Brien) are so unhinged by paternal "negligence" that they get caught up in a twisted bank-robbery scheme with a very bad guy, a veritable bogeyman (George Kennedy). Cahill has to sort his familial crisis and several outlaw crews, with the assistance of a sardonic half-breed scout (Neville Brand) who teases him mightily. --Richard T. Jameson

Results of Dad not being home, neglect of family life...:
I liked this story, and the way that it was acted out by John Wayne. A "Duke Turkey" it isn't, as it shows the all-too-familiar results of what happens when Dad isn't around to take care of the children - a sad case of fatherhood today. John Wayne Plays a U.S. Marshall who's out after the bad guys...but ends up with a surprise when his two sons turn out to have helped out in a murder/robbery. Somehow (we aren't told how), Cahill knows his young sons are in cahoots with George Kennedy's bad guys, and they end up l;eading him right to the criminals and culprits, which ends in a wild shoot-out. It also shows that a father's teachings, despite his absence, can be the deciding factor in children's lives, as Cahill's two sons actually do the right thing in the end. Good Drama! Excellent storyline, though rather dark, and does have violence, but an all-around GOOD John Wayne movie!

Children need their Fathers:
I liked this movie for the simple reason it showed that although John Wayne the father had not been with his boys like he should he suddenly realizes what he has missed out on. They really need him and he needs them. He also teaches them a lesson in a very hard way to be honest and truthful.

Not good!:
This is the only Wayne-western, I ever walked out on before it was finished - so I've actually only seen 3/4 of the movie. That was pretty bad!

Another Duke Turkey:
CAHILL--U. S. MARSHAL is another Duke turkey. One of a seemingly unending stream he cranked out in the late sixties through the mid-seventies. On top of which, it is violent and downright cruel. The original script was a modern-day urban cop story. Duke had it rewritten as an oater. Better he should have passed.

An okay movie, but lacks something.:
Cahill is an okay Wayne film, but just is missing something. The story is about 1 thing and every scene stays in the same area, for example, in "Big Jake" you are at the Mc. Candles ranch, then at a Mexican oil town. So, this movie got kind of boring. The introduction when it was wintertime was what I believe the best part when Wayne encounters outlaws and...uses his double barrel. Chief Lightfoot was funny in the begining when he says, "Just one , i think i know him" I really liked the first parts, but the rest of the movie; I would have saved my money.