John Wayne Starred in 80 Westerns—He Only Regretted This One
John Wayne wasn't the type to dwell on bad reviews — but even the Duke had one film he wished he'd left in the dust. Out of more than 80 Westerns, only one made him openly say: I shouldn't have done that.
The year was 1973, and Wayne was dealing with a lot — health issues, fatigue, and a movie that just wasn't coming together. In a 1975 interview, he didn't hold back:
"It just wasn't a well-done picture. It needed better writing, it needed a little better care in making."
The film? Cahill U.S. Marshal.
It was supposed to be something meaningful. Instead, it turned into a mess of half-baked ideas, and critics tore it apart — calling it preachy, boring, and even a desperate grab at the youth market. At the box office, it barely made a dent.
Wayne blamed the script, the direction, and the overall production. And it left such a bad taste in his mouth that he refused to work with director Andrew V. McLaglen ever again — even though McLaglen tried to defend it:
"This is not the usual John Wayne movie. It's a very deep, personal story about children neglected by a father who is just trying to do his job."
It didn't help that Wayne was physically struggling. He was 65, had lost a lung to cancer, and was dealing with emphysema — so weak he needed a stepladder just to mount his horse. That alone speaks volumes.
Despite a modest $60.9 million gross, Cahill U.S. Marshal never earned back Wayne's respect. It's the one Western he publicly regretted — and for a man who defined the genre, that's saying something.