Perfect cast and a good story

A Disappointing Continuation

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

One of the many Stereotypical Westerns that John Wayne made in His Waning Years. The Exceptions being True Grit (1969) and the Curtain Call, an Excellent Film, The Shootist (1976), Directed by the Great Don Siegel.In this one Wayne tries Half-Heartedly to Soften His Racist Image and the Conservative Persona by Inserting a Native-American as His Tracking Buddy and ONE SCENE where He swats His Son for dissing a "Squaw".Of course, none of this Contrived Apology would do anything to curry favor from His Detractors who were on the "Warpath" in 1970's America.The Film looks good with an Overrated and Pedestrian Score from Elmer Bernstein and a number of Familiar Faces. The Movie isn't much more than a rehashed Story of Fatherly Neglect and Rebellious Youth.It contains a few Scenes of the "New" but Toned Down Action (Wayne would have none of that new fangled Ultra-Violence), but the Story is so Heavy-Handed it gets Bogged Down at times as it labors on and on with its "Message".Worth a Watch for Wayne Fans but others can Skip-It.

Western U.S. Marshal and widower John Wayne (as J.D. Cahill) is frequently away from home. His two neglected sons, 17-year-old Gary Grimes (as Daniel "Danny" Cahill) and 11-year-old Clay O'Brien (as Billy Joe "Budger" Cahill), are often left without their father. Consequently, the boys have fallen under the influence of mean George Kennedy (as Abe Fraser). One day, while Mr. Wayne is out shooting outlaws, young Grimes gets tossed in jail. This turns out to be part of a plot to rob the local bank, with both of Wayne's sons participating. To build an alibi, the crooks get thrown in jail on minor charges, sneak out to rob the bank, and then return to jail. Little of this is actually shown, but it helps to know...Wayne and director Andrew V. McLaglen should have ended their collaborations with the far superior "Chisum" (1970)...This one gets off to a confusing start. It's not an intricate story that develops; it's artificial and lacks cohesion. Seeing the "drunk and disorderly" Grimes with Kennedy might have helped, if the young actor was given the task. There are too many instances where Mr. McLaglen leaves Grimes with widened eyes and flared nostrils. And, let's try not to highlight "half breed" Comanche colored Neville Brand's florescent teeth. Grimes and young O'Brien act like Disney boys adopted by the older, violent Wayne (the script notes he became a father late in life). Considering Marshal Wayne's sense of justice, the boys are lucky to be his sons. If not, Wayne might have plugged them with multiple, spasm-inducting bullets.*** Cahill, United States Marshal (1973-07-11) Andrew V. McLaglen ~ John Wayne, Gary Grimes, Clay O'Brien, George Kennedy

J.D. Cahill (John Wayne) is the toughest U.S. Marshal but an often-absent father to his sons angry Danny (Gary Grimes) and little Billy Joe (Clay O'Brien). Abe Fraser (George Kennedy) convinces the boys to let his gang escape to rob a bank and then return back to their cells. Abe promises not to hurt anybody but they kill the sheriff. When J.D. returns, the boys lie to their father and Abe's gang has an airtight alibi. Billy Joe had hidden the money. Abe and his gang are released. Then four innocent men are caught for the crime and about to be hung. Abe pressures Billy Joe to give him the money but he doesn't really remember where he left it.I like the story of the boys and the conflict with their absent father. The problem in this movie is that the kids need to be great actors. Both boys are workable but nothing special. They don't have the charisma to be the center of the movie. Yet the story requires them to be. In many ways, Cahill is the least interesting of the three characters. This being a John Wayne movie, he has to be on screen a lot. He and Lightfoot keep having light banter which distracts from the more serious aspect of the story. Also if J.D. suspects the boys of the crime, he should have just taken the boys and squeeze the truth out of them.

The teenagers are often played by actors in their mid-twenties (and sometimes even older).Let's do Andrew McLagen justice:Gary Grimes was about eighteen ,Danny's age in the movie.Made at the time when westerns were on the wane (in the second half of the seventies,they were completely overshadowed by the sci-fi) ,"Cawhill US Marshall " pits again John Wayne against youngsters ,after "true grit" two years before;but this time ,these are his sons."Cawhill" ,although it has some of the western permanent features is also a melodrama (instead of the actor/actress or the businessman or the cop in modern times who neglects his sons who go to the dogs ,it is a US marshal -check the title-),a thriller (will the young boy who knows where the loot is hidden talk? ) with snatches of horror flicks (the cemetery).The father/son is a subject which was not this new in western,but the boys were generally older.Wayne portrays a relatively old father whose wife passed away at an early time.Too bad the only female character (Marie Windsor) should be so underwritten.The boys learn in the movie how painful it is growing up.An Indian scout epitomizes wisdom and hope.