Der letzte Scharfschütze

Wenn es das Ende der Karriere sein soll, dann sollte es wenigstens ordentlich sein. So, wie sich Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino von der Schauspielerei verabschiedet hat, hat John Wayne in Der letzte Scharfschütze eigentlich (leider) von allem Abschied genommen: Von der berühmtesten Western-Ära, von der Silberleinwand sowie vom nackten Leben. All das macht er mit ironischer Leichtigkeit und einem harmlosen Sentiment. Die Legende ist mit erhobenem Haupt gegangen. Vier Sterne für den Film, den fünften gebe ich aus Respekt.__PS: Die Schießereien von Don Siegel waren immer richtig saftig.__PPS: Die gemeinsamen Szenen von John Wayne und James Stewart sind großartig. (06.02.2011)

The film is to some extent symbolic in that John Wayne died of cancer three years later and did not make any more films after "The Shooter". His life truly came to a close in the film. We can further find connections with real life. His film partner Lauren Becall witnessed the death from cancer herself when her husband Humphrey Bogart ended up going down the same path. The symbolism in Duke's career ending can also be found in the fact that J.B. Books is introduced at the beginning, but instead of using newly filmed scenes, scenes from older Wayne movies are used. The film is actually a tribute to the living legend at the time. Truly a splendid tribute he deserved. And while we're on the subject of symbolism, Ron Howard's character throws away his gun at the end. The era of gunslingers and westerns is slowly coming to an end. Although we will still see a few great ones, the western genre has never been as popular. It's as if Wayne's death (both in the film and in reality) represents the death of the genre for which he was a true personality, an icon, and a legend. (19.11.2013)