I have a sentimental attachment to The Last Wagon that has absolutely nothing to do with the movie. Once, when I was bedridden with a terrible cold, my mom sent me a picture of Richard Widmark to cheer me up. A couple of years later, when I watched The Last Wagon, a particular scene about twenty minutes before the end looked familiar. It was the screenshot she'd sent me when I was sick! Ladies, vitamin C's got nothing on a Technicolor photo of Richard Widmark's blue eyes and crooked smile.
The actual movie isn't the best of his I've seen, nor is it the best western, but I do recommend at least one viewing since he looks so cute. He plays a ruthless killer the cavalry has finally captured, after years of choosing to live with Indians. They catch him and drag him alongside a wagon train, and when they beat him mercilessly, some of the passengers object. He's still a human being, they argue, and shouldn't be treated like a rabid dog. Among them, Felicia Farr (the future Mrs. Jack Lemmon) takes particular interest - why wouldn't she? He's a doll!
In the supporting cast, you'll see Susan Kohner, Nick Adams, Tommy Rettig, Carl Benton Reid, and George Matthews. But let's face it, you won't really be renting it to see those faces. You'll be renting it for Dick, to see him get rehabilitated, fall in love, and hopefully save the wagon train when they run into trouble (which we all know will happen, otherwise it would be a pretty boring movie). If you go into it with only those expectations, you'll be very entertained.
The actual movie isn't the best of his I've seen, nor is it the best western, but I do recommend at least one viewing since he looks so cute. He plays a ruthless killer the cavalry has finally captured, after years of choosing to live with Indians. They catch him and drag him alongside a wagon train, and when they beat him mercilessly, some of the passengers object. He's still a human being, they argue, and shouldn't be treated like a rabid dog. Among them, Felicia Farr (the future Mrs. Jack Lemmon) takes particular interest - why wouldn't she? He's a doll!
In the supporting cast, you'll see Susan Kohner, Nick Adams, Tommy Rettig, Carl Benton Reid, and George Matthews. But let's face it, you won't really be renting it to see those faces. You'll be renting it for Dick, to see him get rehabilitated, fall in love, and hopefully save the wagon train when they run into trouble (which we all know will happen, otherwise it would be a pretty boring movie). If you go into it with only those expectations, you'll be very entertained.