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John Wayne turns in another bigger-than-life persona while Ann Margret's sizzle consumes the screen in The Train Robbers (1972). This action/adventure/comedy classic, is a variation of a tale told many times before, but this telling is a delight to watch. The production is not deep or thought provoking, but it is fun.
Mrs. Lowe, a beautiful widow (Ann-Margret), hires Lane (Wayne) to guide her to the gold that her husband and his accomplices stole from a train. Before he was murdered in a brothel, the husband hid the treasure a four days' ride south of Liberty, Texas. But the untrusting Mrs. Lowe won't tell Lane exactly where.
Ann-Margret and John Wayne
Lane recruits his old Civil War buddies Jesse and Grady (Ben Johnson and Rod Taylor) and three others to go along for the ride. They expect trouble from the accomplices, and they get it.
Of course, there's the requisite attraction between the widow and the hero, but even though he's John Wayne, it's a difficult pairing to accept since he's getting a bit long in the tooth, which we know he realizes when he tells her his saddle is older than she is.
Ben Johnson, Christopher George, Rod Taylor, Ann-Margret and John Wayne
Lots of action holds our interest, and the background music by Dominic Frontiere adds a great deal of fun to the mix. Each group of treasure seekers has its own theme, and the minute Lane's crew crosses into Mexico, the music takes on a Mexican flare. After the big shoot-em-up near the end, watch for a surprise twist.
Pop the popcorn, put your feet up, and get ready to enjoy this film with the whole family.
Director: Burt Kennedy
Writer: Burt Kennedy
Cast: John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor, Ben Johnson, Christopher George, Bobby Vinton, Jerry Gatlin, and Ricardo Montalban
Rating: PG
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 4 our of 5 stars
Run Time: 92
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Format: Color, Widescreen
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