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John Wayne, Eddie Albert, Diana Muldaur, Colleen Dewhurst, Clu Gulager ... see more see more... , David Huddleston , Al Lettieri , Julie Adams , William Bryant , Richard Eastham , Richard Kelton , Roger E. Mosley , Chuck Roberson , Joe Tornatore , James Louis Watkins , Fred M. Waugh , Dick Friel , Jim Watkins

Undoubtedly having second thoughts after turning down Dirty Harry, John Wayne showed up in 1974 in his own "maverick cop" adventure, McQ. Wayne, playing McQ, a veteran detective, turns in his badge wh... read more read more...en he's officially denied the opportunity of clearing the name of his late best friend, who has been posthumously accused of drug pushing. Investigating on his own, McQ becomes romantically involved with his friend's widow (Diana Muldaur), who unbeknownst to him is up to her neck in police corruption. Considering the usual flag-waving content of John Wayne's 1970s films, it is rather startling to discover that the real villains in McQ are a coterie of crooked cops! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

4,283 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

7 critics

PG, 1 hr. 51 min.

Directed by: John Sturges

Release Date: February 6, 1974

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DVD Release Date: May 3, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (133)

  • jjnxn
    November 8, 2011
    jjnxn
    Not a great movie but a pretty good one. The Duke is too old for his part, he was much better served by the following years Brannigan, but he gruffs his way through. The story is standard and not too difficult to figure out but if you are a fan of crime movies this is an acceptab... read morele time filler. Where it fails is in the wasting of three talented actresses Diana Muldaur, underused, Colleen Dewhurst, although she comes across the most strongly it is more the power of her personality and presence than anything she's given to work with in a throwaway part, and Julie Adams, she and Wayne have a good rapport in their one scene and you have a feeling there is more to their story but then she is gone from the film.
  • ythelastman89
    August 25, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Even though it's the poor man's Magnum Force, there's something really fun and different about McQ. John Wayne is always so charismatic and cool that it doesn't really matter what he's in, it's gonna be worthwhile. I really like the overall tone of the movie, it's not overly viol... read moreent or over the top. It's more of a traditional approach to the genre, which is nice. I like that there is a world where you can be a one man army and still succeed on top.
  • middleeasternfilms
    July 10, 2008
    middleeasternfilms
    John Wayne was a cowboy, pure and simple. He was also a war veteran at times. But he most certainly was not a cop and this movie shows why. It's a guilty pleasure of mine and I enjoy it, but after seeing this film I'm glad he turned down Dirty Harry because that never would've wo... read morerked with anyone excet for Clint. Not a bad movie, but certainly not a classic.
  • deano
    November 13, 2006
    deano
    John Wayne thunderously enforces the law in this great high-velocity thriller.
  • DrLappos
    October 18, 2007
    DrLappos
    I loved this movie. Even with an ageing and ill Wayne he was still a superb actor.
  • bradwest
    October 7, 2008
    bradwest
    The Duke tries to be Dirty Harry. Mixed results, but you can never bypass watching some of this train wreck when channel surfing.
  • splittailluvr
    November 13, 2006
    splittailluvr
    One of the last non-western movies made by John Wayne that is quite similar to and older Dirty Harry character.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
March 24, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The Duke, desperate to maintain his hold with viewers, tries to step into the Dirty harry territory with this disappointing crimer. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
June 9, 2007
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Uma triste ironia do Cinema que a única colaboração entre Sturges e Wayne tenha sido neste policial urbano medíocre que já nasceu anacrônico.

Dennis Schwartz
January 24, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A rethinking, if you will, by the Duke of turning down the role of Dirty Harry. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 23, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Without the Duke, this would be a mediocre police adventure

July 28, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Nora Sayre
May 9, 2005
Nora Sayre, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 16, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
January 26, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Carol Cling
January 5, 2004
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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McQ Trivia

  • McQ, The Quiet Man, was not on the Stagecoach when Brannigan and His Private Secretary crossed the Rio Grande On The Wings Of Eagles. Who am I?  Answer »
  • In what state was the John Wayne movie "McQ" filmed?  Answer »
  • Which actor, most famous for appearing in westerns, starred in the 1970s police thrillers McQ and Brannigan.  Answer »
  • Which movie was a seventies John Wayne movie?   Answer »
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