McQ (1974) – McQ is a crime-action film about Detective Lieutenant Lon McQ (played by John Wayne), a tough cop who goes rogue to investigate the murder of his partner. The investigation leads him deep into a drug smuggling operation, where he must navigate a dangerous web of corruption and betrayal.
Director: John Sturges. Other films he is known for include “The Great Escape” (1963) and “The Magnificent Seven” (1960).
Writer: Lawrence Roman. Other films he is known for include “The Great White Hope” (1970) and “Valdez Is Coming” (1971).
Release Date: February 6, 1974.
Domestic Box Office: The domestic box office gross for “McQ” was approximately $5 million.
Cast:
- John Wayne as Detective Lieutenant Lon McQ. Other films he is known for: “True Grit” (1969), “The Searchers” (1956), “Stagecoach” (1939).
- Eddie Albert as Capt. Ed Kosterman. Other films he is known for: “Roman Holiday” (1953), “The Heartbreak Kid” (1972).
- Diana Muldaur as Myra. Other films she is known for: She’s well-known for her television work, including roles in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “L.A. Law.”
- Colleen Dewhurst as Kate. Other films she is known for: “Annie Hall” (1977), “The Dead Zone” (1983).
- Clu Gulager as Stan Boyle. Other films he is known for: “The Killers” (1964), “The Last Picture Show” (1971).
“Nobody’s killing me!”
Cinematic Importance: McQ (1974) is notable for being one of the few films in which legendary actor John Wayne played a contemporary urban police detective rather than his more typical roles in Westerns or war films. The movie also stands as one of the last films of John Sturges, a highly regarded director known for his work on classic action films. While “McQ” received mixed reviews upon its release, it remains a noteworthy film for fans of John Wayne and action cinema of the era. Its significance lies in the portrayal of Wayne in an atypical role and in its contributions to the action genre of the 1970s.
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