McQ (1974)

After his good friend and fellow cop (William Bryant) is killed, a Seattle cop (John Wayne) ignores all the rules in his quest to find his friend's murderer. But what he uncovers, isn't what he expected. Directed by John Sturges (MAGNIFICENT SEVEN), this was an attempt for Wayne to move beyond westerns and branch into DIRTY HARRY (a role he reputedly turned down) territory. It's an uneasy mix. The film's use of long haired hippie "radicals" and "cool" black pimps dates the movie. Physically, Wayne looks tired as if all the action exhausts him. Of course, Wayne's potent screen presence eclipses just about everyone else on the screen though Colleen Dewhurst (in the film's best performance) as a cocaine addict holds her own in her scenes with Wayne. For Wayne fans only. The derivative score is by Elmer Bernstein. With Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, Julie Adams, Clu Gulager, Al Lettieri, Roger E. Mosley and David Huddleston.