It’s no secret that John Wayne starred in a plethora of iconic Westerns which still stand the test of time many decades following their release, with many being considered classics of not just the Western genre, but cinema as a whole. There are so many incredible Westerns within Wayne’s filmography, it’s hard to pick a favorite: The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Rio Bravo are just a few of the quintessential Westerns which are still revered and discussed by film fanatics to this day, and for good reason. However, there’s one film in The Duke’s portfolio which deserves to be remembered fondly, even if it doesn’t quite rank among his best work.

Legendary filmmaker Michael Curtiz‘s final film, 1961’s The Comancheros, featured the first-time pairing of John Wayne and actor Stuart Whitman in a team-up Western which followed Jake Cutter (Wayne), a widowed Texas Ranger, on the trail of Paul Regret (Whitman), a gambler wanted for murder following a fatal duel. However, Cutter gets more than he bargained for when he’s forced to team up with his new prisoner and go undercover in an effort to defeat a band of treacherous arms merchants responsible for arming Comanches, earning them the titular nickname of the Comancheros. Also starring Western icon Lee Marvin in a minor supporting role, The Comancheros was a solid box office success upon its release, and still sits at a whopping 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so why isn’t it spoken about in the same manner as many of John Wayne’s other famous Westerns?

‘The Comancheros’ Had a Bumpy (But Fascinating) Production

Perhaps even more fascinating than the film itself is the story of its production. As stated previously, The Comancheros was the final film of Casablanca director Michael Curtiz, who was battling cancer at the time of the film’s production, leaving him unable to direct much of the film. In his stead, John Wayne assumed directing duties, with The Duke just coming off his own (partially) self-funded directorial effort, The Alamo, which nearly bankrupted Wayne following the film’s underwhelming box-office performance, leaving the star strapped for cash and desperate for another hit.

Despite reportedly butting heads with director Michael Curtiz on multiple occasions, Wayne, by most accounts, was a wonderful director, and The Duke was ultimately responsible for shooting at least half of The Comancheros. While Wayne and Curtiz weren’t exactly friends in the traditional sense, Wayne was very respectful towards the legendary director and refused to accept a co-director credit for the film out of respect. Curtiz died shortly after the release of The Comancheros, but he lived long enough to see the film become a financial success. The film also saved the struggling John Wayne, with the star recouping much of The Alamo‘s production costs as a result of The Comancheros‘ triumph.

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“I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted.”

‘The Comancheros’ Is a Traditional, Yet Entertaining Western Romp

Perhaps the main reason for The Comancheros not receiving the same classic status as some of The Duke’s more iconic Westerns is the simple fact that the film doesn’t exactly do anything exceptional. That’s not to say the film isn’t good, far from it, in fact. The Comancheros is a rock-solid, sturdy effort with a terrific duo at its center; Wayne and Whitman have incredible chemistry, and their budding friendship is very enjoyable to witness (here’s a fun drinking game: take a shot every time John Wayne calls Stuart Whitman’s character “Monsieur”), and their endlessly watchable dynamic alone helps the film stand apart from the John Ford-directed Westerns which Wayne had become most-associated with. It’s very worthy of a watch, and a must-see for any John Wayne fans who have perhaps passed it by.

However, it still stands that The Comancheros doesn’t feel all that groundbreaking in the broader scope of John Wayne’s career. Whereas Westerns such as the aforementioned The Searchers or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance explore complex themes — from the cycle of violence to the taming of the West — The Comancheros is more interested in giving its viewers a fun Western romp with charming characters and exciting shootouts, and very little more. And while some may see that as a blemish on the film, it is actually one of its greatest strengths. It may not have the layered intricacies of John Wayne’s finest outings, but The Comancheros still makes for an incredibly fun, rewatchable flick in its own right.