Line #5 Trivia/TheShootist


1	* AcclaimedFlop: Despite receiving generally favourable reviews, the movie proved to be one of Creator/JohnWayne's least successful films.
2	* ActorInspiredHeroism: When viewing footage of the final gunfight in the bar, Creator/JohnWayne saw that it was edited to show him shooting a guy in the back. He said, "I've made over 250 pictures and have never shot a guy in the back. Change it." They did. However, Wayne had shot men in the back in several of his movies, including ''Film/TheSearchers''. He also objected to Books being killed by Gillom and suggested that the bartender do it, because "no one could ever take John Wayne in a fair fight".
3	* AllStarCast: When word got out that Creator/JohnWayne was doing what everyone assumed would be his final movie, people were nearly begging for parts. Wayne personally selected Creator/LaurenBacall for the female lead, with Creator/RonHoward and Creator/JimmyStewart in the two main supporting roles. Presumably the director was too scared of Creator/JohnCarradine to ask him to leave. Harry Morgan shows up for two scenes, Creator/ScatmanCrothers for one. Creator/RichardBoone and Hugh O'Brian were also smuggled onto the set. Ricky Nelson is also shown briefly in flashback (actually a clip from ''Film/RioBravo'').
4	* DawsonCasting:
5	** Creator/RonHoward was 21 when he played the teenager Gillom.
6	** Brooks' tombstone says that he is 58 years old. Creator/JohnWayne was actually 69.
7	* TheDanza: Creator/JohnWayne as John B. Brooks.
8	* EnforcedMethodActing: The plot involves an aging cowboy dying of cancer. Sadly, this required no acting on Wayne's part.
9	* RealitySubtext:
10	** Creator/JohnWayne plays a legendary gunfighter dying of cancer. While, contrary to popular belief, Wayne didn't have his fatal cancer at the time of filming, he was in ill health at the time. He fell ill with influenza during production and was hospitalized for two weeks, during which time production was shut down. It was uncertain at one point whether the film would actually be completed because Wayne was so ill his doctors were close to forbidding him to finish it. He was also suffering from heart problems during filming, the result of a severe bout of pneumonia in January 1974 that caused him to cough so violently that he damaged a heart valve.
11	** Creator/LaurenBacall plays a widow. This was something she was all too familiar with, having lost her husband Creator/HumphreyBogart to cancer.
12	* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Creator/JohnWayne was irked at the disappointing box-office of the film, which he blamed mostly on Creator/{{Paramount}} for poorly marketing the film. He complained that Paramount spent too much time focused on ''Film/KingKong1976'' and relied too heavily on Wayne's name brand alone to sell the film, which by 1976 was not a sure thing as in years past after a couple of flops. He also felt it diluted any potential for his fine performance to be nominated for an Oscar, which after a few ads in Variety for consideration was quickly forgotten by the Academy.
13	* WagTheDirector: Creator/JohnWayne was highly self-conscious of his public image, considering it unmanly to be photographed in production stills while makeup was being applied with a powder puff. He also insisted on using a particular reddish tint of makeup, which flattered his complexion but created headaches for cinematographer Bruce Surtees. Most importantly, he insisted on toning down the profanity and more explicit references to cancer from the original novel. He also suggested that the setting be moved from El Paso to Carson City.
14	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
15	** Creator/JohnWayne asked Creator/WalterHill to direct after seeing ''Hard Times''. Hill declined because he didn't want to see his hero die onscreen.
16	** Creator/GeorgeCScott was originally offered the role of Books, and accepted it on the condition that not one word of the script be changed. However, the role was given to Wayne after he expressed interest. The producers claim they had wanted him all along, but did not believe he would be interested in the film. Creator/CharlesBronson, Creator/ClintEastwood, Creator/GeneHackman and Creator/PaulNewman turned it down before Wayne was cast.
17	** Creator/MaureenOHara was considered for the role of Bond Rogers, but Creator/DonSiegel felt she wasn't suitable for the part.
18	** [[spoiler:The original screenplay had Gillom Rogers shooting and killing J.B. Books. In the screenplay, the killing disturbed Gillom so much that he throws away the pistol and leaves the bar, repulsed by the act. Wayne had the screenplay changed so that Books is killed by the bartender, who is then killed by Rogers]].

Context Trivia / TheShootist