The War Wagon

Taw Jackson has spent years in prison after being framed by Frank Pierce, a rancher who seized his land once gold was found on it. Released early for good behaviour, Jackson returns to New Mexico intending to take back what Pierce took from him. Rather than simply settle the score, he sets his sights on the armour-plated stagecoach Pierce uses to move the gold, a vehicle so heavily guarded it seems untouchable. Pierce, wary of what Jackson might do, hires a gunfighter named Lomax to deal with him, but Lomax throws in with Jackson instead, and the two assemble a small crew to pull off the robbery.

Burt Kennedy directed the film, which sits between Return of the Seven and Support Your Local Sheriff! in his filmography. Clair Huffaker wrote the screenplay, and the picture was produced by Marvin Schwartz and Michael Wayne. John Wayne stars as Jackson opposite Kirk Douglas as Lomax, with Howard Keel, Robert Walker Jr., Keenan Wynn and Bruce Cabot among the supporting cast. The production drew on 30 credited cast members and 68 credited crew.

Released in May 1967, the film took in about 6 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.8 out of 10 from roughly 12,000 votes, and on TMDB it also sits at 6.8, from a much smaller base of 232 votes. A critics' rating of 5.9 out of 10 from 11 reviews places it slightly below the audience scores.