El Dorado

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El Dorado

Released Jun 7, 1967

2h 6m

Western

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Heartless tycoon Bart Jason (Edward Asner) hires a group of thugs to force the MacDonald family out of El Dorado so he can claim their land. J.P. Harrah, the town's sheriff, is too deep in the throes of alcoholism to help the family. When Harrah's friend, noble elder gunfighter Cole Thorton (John Wayne), learns of the predicament, he travels to El Dorado with his upstart friend, Mississippi (James Caan), to help Harrah clean up in time for a shootout against Jason's men.

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Pauline Kael

The New Republic

El Dorado combines Wayne and Mitchum, both looking exhausted. The director, Howard Hawks, is also tired.

Sep 19, 2023

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

A very funny, very moving work, graced by the cinema's cleanest, most classical style.

Nov 20, 2017

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

A witty, exciting and deeply moving masterpiece.

Nov 20, 2017

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

The movie is as comfy as a pair of old slippers.

Feb 18, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Entertaining Wayne Western.

Rated: 3/4

May 30, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Though it isn't the best of Hawks' actioners, it would be a shame to miss the teaming of the Duke and the unflinching, uncaring Mitchum.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 24, 2020

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Orin D

I do not very often disagree w/ the great Pauline K. but she had her head up her butt on this one.This is first rate Hawk's western w/ first rate performances all around including the youngster Caan beginning a long brilliant film career. During the two plus hours this film never drags. The lovely, tough women are all excellent as well. Wayne is anything but one-dimensional having to deal w/ temporary paralysis from a bullet lodged near his spine. Hawk w/Ford is one of the two masters of the western. GREAT FLICK! Orin Domenico

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

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Narciso R

Don't really like Wayne, but most westerns available are with him. 2 gorgeous girls in this movie. NRJ.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/24

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S R

Another lost flixster review! Grr

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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Rami A

It's one of John Wayne's best westerns. It's got all what makes a good western. John Wayne and James Caan make great protagonists. If you enjoyed James Caan in The Godfather, then you'll enjoy him here too, despite this coming out before The Godfather.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

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Nick F

Engrossing and entertaining Western with predictable storyline yet, despite some slack direction from Howard Hawks, is still very engaging. John Wayne turns in his usual dominating performance as an ageing but still fast hired gun up against an old rival well portrayed by a sneeringly menacing Christopher George. Wayne has an unnecessary comedic pal in James Caan and veteran Robert Mitchum as a drunken sheriff, but this is always Wayne's movie. His charisma is, as usual, quite compelling Reviewed by Nick Fletcher.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/03/23

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We Talk N

Based on this, I can't say western is fully my thing, but there are some exceptions. This one felt really simple for its time and had a pretty easy going story. Sure this film maybe wasn't for me, but John Wayne's acting here made this entertaining to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/23

Full Review

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Howard Hawks

Director

John Wayne

Cole Thornton

Robert Mitchum

El Dorado Sheriff J.P. Harrah

James Caan

Mississippi

Arthur Hunnicutt

Bull

Ed Asner

Bart Jason

Nevada Smith

50%

65%

Nevada Smith

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Synopsis

Heartless tycoon Bart Jason (Edward Asner) hires a group of thugs to force the MacDonald family out of El Dorado so he can claim their land. J.P. Harrah, the town's sheriff, is too deep in the throes of alcoholism to help the family. When Harrah's friend, noble elder gunfighter Cole Thorton (John Wayne), learns of the predicament, he travels to El Dorado with his upstart friend, Mississippi (James Caan), to help Harrah clean up in time for a shootout against Jason's men.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Leigh Brackett
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 1967, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Runtime: 2h 6m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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