This mediocre and minor John Wayne Western flick has a promising title. I also liked the previews, but was simply disappointed when I finally got around to watching it. The Train Robbers is directed and written by Burt Kennedy and starring an evidently aging John Wayne.
The movie focuses on Lane (Wayne) and Jesse (Ben Johnson), who decide to hire a few other gunslingers get back half a million dollars to a widow and to also get the $50,000 reward. They set off on their treasure hunt, followed by a gang of about thirty bad guys, who prove to be horrible shots when it comes to gunfighting, and a lone, Pinkerton agent.
The Train Robbers keeps a slight comedic tone throughout it. Constantly, Lane banters with the widow, even gets her drunk once, and the rest of the men talk about whatever’s going on or whatever pops up on their mind.
The Train Robbers tries to redeem itself in the end by a plot twist that’s supposed to be comedic and lead on to another adventure. I actually thought the plot twist didn’t do anything to help the movie.
The Train Robbers wasn’t one of the Duke’s best; it was actually one of his lesser adventures if you ask me. He still has it all, not giving a performance as in True Grit, but Wayne's performance is his traditional self. The movie definitely isn't.
**/5
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