A lot of fun.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The Duke and Kirk Douglas are paired in this enjoyable Western / action film generally laced with knowing humor. The Duke plays Taw Jackson, former rancher who's released from prison after being wronged by a nefarious character named Pierce (Bruce Cabot). Taws' idea of revenge will be to plan a daring heist of the gold being transported in Pierces' "war wagon" of the title, an iron plated, gun equipped stagecoach that resembles a tank. Taw rounds up a few associates to participate in the heist: wise guy Indian Levi Walking Bear (Howard Keel), alcoholic young explosives expert Billy Hyatt (Robert Walker Jr.), transporter Wes Fletcher (Keenan Wynn), and a man named Lomax (Douglas), a gunslinger who Pierce wants to hire to kill Taw.Clair Huffaker wrote the screenplay, based on his own novel, and director Burt Kennedy, a man who often specialized in Westerns with strong comedy content, does a fine job of bringing it to life. The action is first rate, with an impressive explosion, a chase sequence, and a riotous barroom brawl adding to the fun. The War Wagon itself is pretty amusing to behold.Kirk and The Duke make a good team, generating a proper amount of chemistry. The supporting cast is solid and full of familiar faces. Cabot is great as the unrepentant villain, Wynn is at his loudest and funniest, and Keel regularly steals his scenes. Bruce Dern, Gene Evans, Terry Wilson, and Sheb Wooley all make the most of their screen time.Given a rousing score by Dimitri Tiomkin, this may not be among The Dukes' all time best, but it's an engaging diversion for an hour and 41 minutes.Seven out of 10.

Former prisoner Taw Jackson (John Wayne) has returned to town. Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot) sends his man Hammond (Bruce Dern) to offer Lomax (Kirk Douglas) $10k to kill him. Pierce had Jackson falsely imprisoned before and stole his ranch when gold was discovered. Lomax was the man who shot him but this time Jackson offers Lomax $100k to rob a gold shipment on Pierce's War Wagon, an armored stage coach. They rescue Levi Walking Bear from Mexican bandits. Lomax recruits drunken explosive expert Billy Hyatt. With an inside man and Indian warriors, Jackson aims to take back what was his.This is a no-brainer western. Wayne and Douglas together make a compelling duo. The recruitment is a little messy and the actual robbery needs to be bigger. There is a lot of talk of explosives but it's hardly used in the robbery. It's an old fashion western and a fun watch for the most part.

John Wayne and Kirk Douglas appeared together in three films between 1965 and 1967. First off was "In Harm's Way" in 1965, then the ensemble picture that was "Cast a Giant Shadow" in 1966. Then came this film, their first Western, and sadly their last outing together. Sadly because The War Wagon shows a real genuine chemistry between two men who were very different socially; but on screen they clearly had regard for what each one gave to a movie. Directed by Burt Kennedy and coming out of Wayne's own Batjac Productions, The War Wagon centres around two old friends (some what grudgingly it seems) who plan to rob the vehicle of the title. An armoured stage coach, resplendent with Gatling Gun, manned front middle and centre with crack shot gunmen, and full of gold, lots of gold! Adding fuel to the fire is that the Wagon is run by a man called Frank Pierce (Bruce Cabot), who stole Taw Jackson's (Wayne) ranch as he "cough-cough" served time in jail. Further upping the intrigue is that Pierce wants to hire known gunman Lomax (Douglas) to kill Jackson, oblivious that the two men are plotting to rob him.If that all sounds like a caper movie then you would be right, because it is, and a splendid one at that. A caper movie in a Western setting, lusciously photographed by Duke Wayne's favourite cinematographer, William H. Clothier at Durango in Mexico, and rattling along at a fair old clip. Support comes in the form of Howard Keel (a humorous turn as Indian Levi Walking Bear), Robert Walker Jr, Keenan Wynn, Valora Noland and look out for Bruce Dern in a short but effective role. We got quips aplenty as the two machismo fuelled stars play off each over with glee, we got one almighty punch up that had me personally laughing out loud and for those that like good stunt work, well we are well served there also. It's also a film to note because it sees Wayne playing a baddie, an ex convict leading an odd bunch of robbers, driven by revenge and greed. A role that by the looks of it, Wayne loved immensely. So saddle up folks, and as soon as you hear the quirky strains of Ed Ames' warbling "Ballad of The War Wagon," you should know you are in for a smashing little treat. 7/10

Mr Douglas was clearly determined to prove that he had lost little of the athleticism he had shown a decade or so earlier in "The Vikings" as he invents more and more imaginative ways to get on his horse.Just about the only approach he doesn't make is from underneath it.Probably if it had had oars he would have run along them. His silk shirt is a tad tight but he dispenses with that at the drop of a hat and bares his chest,grinning ferociously.He wears his ring outside his leather glove,a trait I find rather disturbing in a family Western. As a gunfighter who had previously failed to kill the Duke one might think his days were numbered,but Mr Wayne believes in keeping his friends close and his enemies closer so he hires him and some rather disparate companions to rob a security waggon and recover the ranch he was cheated out of whilst in prison. "The War Waggon" is a fast - moving enjoyable outing for Wayne and Douglas with a little help from Mr H.Keel who wears a wig and talks in a funny voice,pretending to be an Indian.Not,perhaps,his most enduring role, Mr Robert Walker jr and Mr Keenan Wynn make up Wayne's firm and add their particular talents to the mix. The celebrated Mr Bruce Cabot is the uber villain who gets his in the end. Nothing in the least bit surprising happens - and that's half the movie's charm. If you enjoy Kirk and the Duke doing their familiar thing and having fun whilst doing it then I can recommend watching it.