Display MoreI've heard there were a lot of comparisons with The Shootist. At least he borrowed from the best!
Here's a copy of a post from one of the moderators on our forum. (www.wildwestforum.com.) He is a Western author and a great historian:
Re: What was the last non-western movie or tv you saw or currently watching
« Reply #169 on: February 05, 2009, 05:36:29 AM »Quote
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Gran Torino finally came to our town and we went and saw it tonight. We thought it was very good overall. On a strictly personal level of the star's career, the ending reminded me so much of John Wayne's last movie, The Shootist. Clint has died before in the movies (Beguiled, for example), as did John, but if this was Clint's last film as an actor, he went out in style.
Gran Torino and The Shootist:
Both characters had lung cancer (John's was for real, though. Hmm, is Clint's?)
Both were old and cynical.
Both allowed themselves to become attached to a female and a young boy headed down the wrong road.
Both got involved with his new friends' problems.
Both knew they were dying, and sacrificed themselves for a principle.
Both went down in a last scene of violence and gunfire, although John was shooting back.
There was also a lot of humor in Gran Torino, and I say again that we enjoyed the hell out of it. Just another opinion.
Post created by Chuck Lewis: aka: Dust Devil
John gives his horse to Gillum, Clint gives his car to to the kid.
Both John and Clint have a haircut, shave and bath before going to their showdowns.
