In El Dorado, John Wayne and Robert Mitchum play old friends who reunite in a western town to try and keep the peace between two rival families. Bob is the town's sheriff, but his drunken ways have lost him the respect of everyone in town, hence the need for John to come and help. There's also a powerful family trying to buy up all the land in town, and the two cowboys quickly make some enemies. Meanwhile, they take a trigger-happy James Caan, who's out for revenge, under their wing. And love interest Charlene Holt turns out to have dated both leads, wo which one will she choose to settle down with? Or, the better question is which fellow feels like settling down with her?
As much as I hate to admit it, this has the "old folks still got it" flavor to it. Bob's character has some comic relief in him, like getting embarrassed when people walk in on him in the bathtub. Pretending to protect his modesty, he covers his own eyes. In another scene, he cries when the townspeople laugh at him. I think it's supposed to be funny, but I just felt bad for him. John also has the "I'm old" feel to his character, especially since he's charged with training and looking after a younger "replacement" in James.
The movie isn't a strict comedy, though; far from it. For western comedies, I prefer Dirty Dingus Magee, but El Dorado isn't the worst western I've sat through. It's not my favorite, but I'd watch it again, if only to hear the lovely title song.
As much as I hate to admit it, this has the "old folks still got it" flavor to it. Bob's character has some comic relief in him, like getting embarrassed when people walk in on him in the bathtub. Pretending to protect his modesty, he covers his own eyes. In another scene, he cries when the townspeople laugh at him. I think it's supposed to be funny, but I just felt bad for him. John also has the "I'm old" feel to his character, especially since he's charged with training and looking after a younger "replacement" in James.
The movie isn't a strict comedy, though; far from it. For western comedies, I prefer Dirty Dingus Magee, but El Dorado isn't the worst western I've sat through. It's not my favorite, but I'd watch it again, if only to hear the lovely title song.