If you’re hunting for that one John Wayne movie with James Caan, you’re thinking of El Dorado. Released in 1966—or 1967 depending on where you lived—it’s a weird, loud, and surprisingly funny Western that feels like a family reunion where everyone brought a shotgun.
People often call it a remake of Rio Bravo. Honestly? They’re mostly right. Director Howard Hawks basically took the same script, changed the names, and decided to see if Robert Mitchum could out-drink Dean Martin on screen. It’s a "remix" before remixes were a thing.
What Really Happened in El Dorado
The story is pretty straightforward. John Wayne plays Cole Thornton, a gun-for-hire with a conscience. He rides into town for a job, realizes the guy hiring him (Ed Asner) is a jerk trying to steal water from a family, and says "no thanks."
Along the way, he accidentally kills a kid from that family, gets shot in the back by the kid's sister, and ends up with a bullet lodged against his spine that causes temporary paralysis.
Fast forward six months.
Thornton finds out his old buddy J.P. Harrah (Robert Mitchum), the local sheriff, has become a total drunk because a girl left him. To make matters worse, that same jerk rancher is moving in for the kill. Thornton heads back to help, picking up a young guy named Mississippi—played by a very young, very charismatic James Caan—to help even the odds.
Why Mississippi Was James Caan’s Big Break
James Caan wasn't "Sonny Corleone" yet. He was just a kid from the Bronx playing a kid from... well, Mississippi. His character, Alan Bourdillion Traherne, is legendary for two things:
- He can’t shoot a pistol to save his life.
- He wears a hat that looks like it was chewed by a coyote.
Mississippi uses a sawed-off shotgun because he’s a "dead aim" with it, mostly because you don't have to aim a shotgun that much. Caan brings this frantic, nervous energy that balances out John Wayne’s "Mount Rushmore" vibe.
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There’s a great scene where Mississippi has to recite a poem—Edgar Allan Poe’s "Eldorado"—and it’s genuinely cool. It adds a layer of literacy to a movie where people mostly just punch each other.
The Famous "Cheater" Incident on Set
You’ve maybe heard the stories about Caan and Wayne not getting along. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but they definitely poked the bear.
Caan was a young, athletic guy. Wayne was... getting older. During breaks, they’d play chess or cards. Apparently, one day, Caan caught Wayne cheating and called him out on it right in front of everyone.
"You're a cheater!" Caan yelled.
Most people didn't talk to the Duke like that. Wayne just kind of grunted. But you can see that friction on screen. It works. They have this "grumpy dad and annoying son" chemistry that makes the movie feel more alive than your standard 1960s Western.
El Dorado vs. Rio Bravo: Which is Better?
This is the debate that never ends.
Rio Bravo (1959) is the "perfect" movie. It’s tight, it’s iconic, and it has Angie Dickinson.
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El Dorado is the "fun" movie. It’s messier. It’s more violent. The guns are louder. Howard Hawks reportedly told his cast to just have fun with it.
A Few Key Differences
- The Drunk: Dean Martin in Rio Bravo is a tragic, sweaty drunk. Robert Mitchum in El Dorado is a funny, "I’m going to fall over now" drunk.
- The Sidekick: Walter Brennan in Rio Bravo is a classic. Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado plays "Bull," who uses a bugle and a bow and arrow. It’s ridiculous.
- The "Kid": Ricky Nelson in the first movie was a pop star trying to act. James Caan in the second was an actor trying to be a star. Caan wins this round easily.
The "Mississippi" Elixir
One of the best parts of the movie is when Mississippi has to brew a "sobriety" potion to get Mitchum’s character sober enough to hold a rifle.
It involves:
- Cayenne pepper
- Mustard
- Ipecac
- Basically everything in the spice cabinet
It’s a slapstick sequence in the middle of a high-stakes shootout movie. That’s the magic of El Dorado. It doesn't take itself too seriously. Even when John Wayne is literally paralyzed on one side and Robert Mitchum is hobbling on a crutch, they’re still cracking jokes.
Why You Should Watch It Today
If you’re tired of modern movies where everything is CGI and nobody has a personality, El Dorado is a breath of fresh air. It’s a "hangout movie." You aren't just watching a plot; you’re hanging out with Wayne, Mitchum, and Caan.
The action is surprisingly gritty. There’s a scene where Wayne’s character basically cheats in a gunfight because his arm is paralyzed. It’s not "heroic" in the traditional sense, but it’s realistic for a guy who just wants to stay alive.
Pro Tip: Look for the opening credits. They feature paintings by Olaf Wieghorst, who actually has a cameo in the film as the gunsmith. It’s a classy touch for a movie that ends with a guy getting blasted through a door with a shotgun.
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Actionable Next Steps
- Stream it: El Dorado is frequently available on platforms like Paramount+, Amazon Prime, or Pluto TV.
- Double Feature: Watch Rio Bravo on a Friday and El Dorado on a Saturday. It’s the best way to spot the "rhyming" scenes between the two.
- Listen to the Score: Nelson Riddle did the music. It’s big, brassy, and perfect for a Saturday afternoon.
- Check out Caan’s Early Work: If you like him here, look for Red Line 7000, the movie he did with Hawks right before this one.
El Dorado isn't just a John Wayne movie. It’s the moment James Caan proved he could hold his own against the biggest legends in Hollywood. It’s loud, it’s funny, and it’s arguably the best "remake" ever made.