BRANNIGAN (1975)

Understandably overlooked late-career John Wayne film, a contemporary fish-out-of-water policier, sends Wayne’s NYPD Lieutenant detective to London to bring mob man John Vernon back across the pond to stand trial.  (Saying things like ‘across the pond’ this film’s idea of witticisms.)  The story hook is that Vernon is kidnapped before Wayne gets to him, but by whom?  Or did he kidnap himself as part of an escape plan?  The film’s running gag is, of course, bull-in-a-china shop Wayne amid British teacups, civility and Scotland Yard.  Director Gordon Hickox is competent, if faceless (only sinking badly during a Pub donnybrook that might be the work of regular Wayne megger Andrew McLaglen - see poster).  But a professional shine from lenser Gerry Fisher and a decent cast (Richard Atttenborough, Judy Geeson, slimy Mel Ferrer) give 68 yr-old Wayne something solid to bounce against.  No great shakes, but the first half works pretty well.  Still, you’d think the last film from one of Hollywood's greatest careers would get more attention.  What’s that, you say?   Two more films left in the Wayne quiver?  Technically, yes.  But ROOSTER COGBURN/’75 is less film than farewell tour for three.  Wayne reviving TRUE GRIT/’69 to little effect; Katharine Hepburn embarrassingly revisiting THE AFRICAN QUEEN/’51, and producer Hal Wallis calling it a day.  While that self-regarding disappointment THE SHOOTIST/’76, more memorial than memorable.  As a working actor, something Wayne gloried in and at (the man spent a full decade making program Westerns before being rescued by John Ford with STAGECOACH), this very ordinary film makes a spot-on swan-song.

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK:  The best of Wayne’s late films, THE COWBOYS/’72.    https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-cowboys-1972.html

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID:  Fun fact, co-writer Christopher Trumbo was the son of legendary blacklisted scripter Dalton Trumbo who Wayne helped keep off the screen for a decade . . . or rather, helped keep his name off the screen since Dalton continued to write under various aliases.