The War Wagon 4K 1967

After his time in prison, Jackson decides to rob a cunning gangster who took over Jackson’s ranch while he was behind bars. The main obstacle to pulling off this heist is that the gangster has acquired a van equipped with a high-powered machine gun that mows down everything in its path. A drunkard, a card cheat, and an old man—who is married to a sexy beauty—will help him reclaim the ranch and make a tidy sum, with the support of an Indian. And others will follow suit.

Wayne and Douglas’s charisma alone is enough for a solid Western, but the film also offers excellent humor. Just look at the bar fight when the Native American is refused a strong drink. And the chase—with its traps and the blowing up of the bridge—is devilishly funny when the bandit with the machine gun is caught off guard. Lomax’s bold double-cross: working for one man while making a promise to another. Twelve thousand dollars versus one hundred thousand dollars. The answer to what Lomax will choose is obvious—as long as he doesn’t end up with nothing in the end, not even a horse to ride.

A solid, straightforward Western. Plus, the Native Americans aren’t portrayed as beasts here. They’re genuine allies for the time being and cleverly use the white men—the gold hunters—to get their hands on huge supplies of flour. You’ve got to admit, that’s an unusual reward.