A rootin', tootin' Western masquerading as a yarn of fire eaters who put out oil fires starring John Wayne, Jim Hutton (Timothy's dad), Katherine Ross & Vera Miles (who made at least 2 other movies w/the Duke; The Searchers & The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance). This is a Wayne working in lower key in a film that's easy on the eyes but you just wish was a hell of a lot better (the equivalent of eating a TV dinner to satisfy a week of fasting). Wayne & Hutton are the best in the business but when Wayne is hurt on the job & his pals fear he's about to bite the big one, his estranged daughter Ross is called & things start getting hairy as she falls for Hutton even though her mother, Miles, left him because the dangers of the job was too much for her to bear & things are looking like they're going to repeat themselves. I can't fault the film for trying but this kind of easy going entertainment is best left to a colorful 10 minute anecdote rather than a 2 hour slog like this one.
Review of Hellfighters
