Rating: 
Summary: My favorite Western, but there are flaws
Review: Like the other reviewer said, I can't put my finger exactly on why this is not just my favorite Western but one of my favorite movies. I think it's because the actors are so obviously having a good time with the characters they portray. That, and the script is just plain engaging. The characters bounce wisecracks off each other throughout the movie, which provides a lot of good humor and gives the movie an easy "buddy" feel that you get from movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The story is simple, but there are twists to the white hats vs. black hats routine that keep the viewer wondering how it will all wind up. The cinematography is also good...I find myself looking at the colors and lighted areas in the nighttime scenes because it is so warm-looking. There are some flaws...for example, John Wayne's character is stricken by occasional paralysis when a bullet in his back "presses against something." This happens a couple of times in the movie, yet James Caan's character asks,"What is it, Cole?" when it happens for the second time, well after it has all been explained to him. That aside, and some other things too, I love this movie. If you want a John Wayne movie that is a good story with no axes to grind, a movie that shows him at his best, and one with an excellent supporting cast, then this is the one. Even my wife liked it, and she is not a John Wayne fan. This movie is simply my favorite. I have watched this movie since I was a kid in the 70s. I own a VHS copy, and the first movie I'll buy when I upgrade to DVD will be El Dorado.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT 1960'S WAYNE WESTERN!
Review: Paired with Robert Mitchum, El Dorado is essentially a remake of Howard Hawks' earlier Rio Bravo (with writer Leigh Brackett updating her own script). John Wayne, instead of sheriff, plays an aging gunman, who is getting too wise for the game. Robert Mitchum, as the drunken sheriff, takes over the role of the drunken Dean Martin, and James Caan is the fresh faced greenhorn last played by Ricky Nelson (thankfully, Caan doesn't sing). Hawks and Brackett take their time in setting up this story, giving Wayne and Mitchum plenty of backstory, before the stand-off in the town of El Dorado.In this movie, Thornton is offered a job by land grabber Ed Asner to take out the Sheriff of El Dorado and run the rightful landowners off their land. Thornton refuses and instead goes to El dorado to help his friend against the other gunmen Asner hired led by Nelse McCloud played by regualr Wayne Co-Star Christopher George. Caan plays Mississippi a young man who cannot use a gun and is given a sawed off shotgun as his weapon. Arthur Hunnicut plays Bull and essentially takes over the role that Walter Brennan played in "Rio Bravo". The movie has a great deal of action as well as humor as Wayne and Caan and Hunnicutt attempt to sober up the sheriff. Wayne and Mitchum had great chemistry together and even though the Duke was aging, still commands the screen in this movie. Lots of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Ride Boldly Ride!
Review: Splendid class-A western of the good old entertaining kind.First class title-song and music and relaxed, enjoyable acting by Wayne, Mitchum and James Caan. Hunnicutt not as funny as Brennan was in Rio Bravo.Christopher George makes great villain. Delightful friendly/ironic approach to getting older and vulnerable. All in all: note quite as good as Rio Bravo - but indeed in the same league.
Rating:
Summary: NO "RIO BRAVO," BUT STILL WORTH A LOOK!
Review: The third of Howard Hawks four westerns starring John Wayne, "El Dorado" lacks some of the emotional impact, and even some of the excitement and foreboding, of "Rio Bravo," their previous work together. It is, for better and worse, a rehash of "Rio Bravo." For worse, it features the not-as-good Robert Mitchum portraying a character similar to Dean Martin's Dude, which was a powerful character in the earlier film. Also, the story is predictable for the most part. For good, though, James Caan does a better job as Mississippi in this film than Ricky Nelson did as Colorado in "Rio Bravo." The gunfights are also well-done. And, last but not least, it IS a John Wayne film, and no film Wayne did was bad, in my opinion.
Overall, a fine film that lacks the impact of "Rio Bravo," but is still an exciting John Wayne adventure! Grade: B+
Rating:
Summary: Top notch acting in an excellent western
Review: This film is a joy to watch. John Wayne,Robert Mitchum, James Caan and Christopher George do an outstanding job in this Howard Hawks film. Great humor abounds through it, especially when Caan tries to sober up Mitchum with his "concoction of gunpowder, croton oil etc, There is a great scene in which John Wayne confronts the troublemaker and his crew. Wayne says "You wont get the job done with this sorry bunch, they couldnt even stomp a stringy jackrabbit! Wayne then backs out on horseback ... some slick ridin! This is a great film !!!
Rating:
Summary: A JOYFUL ENTERTAINING MASTERPIECE
Review: This film is my favorite Hawks movie, the one I enjoy the most. It does necessary means it's his most IMPORTANT in term of film history, (HIS GIRL FRIDAY and RED RIVER should be considered his highest achievement, in that sense); many would just say it's a remake of RIO BRAVO, one of his most popular film. But I actually enjoy EL DORADO more than RIO BRAVO because of its playfulness. It is perhaps not the story itself is interesting, but the way Hawks tells it and Wayne and Mitchum (two of my favorite super-heroes, I must say) acting it. They fill the movie with a lot of humor; not only the comic relief James Caan and Arthur Hunnicut who are funny, but Wayne and Mitchum may get even more laugh than these two. There's nothing fancy about Hawks's direction in this film, but everything is done so natural, casual and indeed perfect, which is, I think, only a great master of this trade can achieve. EL DORADO has actually more dramatic element than RIO BRAVO, and these dramas are actually far more carefully constructed to make the story more interesting than in RIO BRAVO. For instance, Wayne's and Mitchum's camaraderie is colored with a tint of old age: not only that Mitchum is a drunk alcoholic (as Dean Martin in RIO BRAVO) but Wayne also becomes crippled. The motivation of revenge gives the strength to this basically entertaining plot. And these dramatic darker themes do not interfere with the enjoyment of the story, which is amazing with Hawks, but rather reinforce the excitement of it. The new transfer is quite brilliant. It captures the richness and depth of the original IB-Technicolor print. If you have already seen the VHS edition, panned-and-scanned and with shallow colors, you haven't really seen this film. With this DVD, you can enjoy the masterful direction of Hawks, the beautiful score by Nelson Riddle (I think the song is very good), and the harmony of performances of those incredible actors who can become those characters just by being in front of camera repeatedly. It's really one of the most enjoyable, entertaining movie ever coming out from Hollywood.
Rating:
Summary: John Wayne at his Best!
Review: This Film is the best John Wayne and Howard Hawks film together. Although Red River is a classic, I like El Dorado better. The camera shots of the background, the music score, acting, script, and directing are among the best of their career's. This film truly ranks as one of John Wayne's best!
Rating:
Summary: Did We Forget About Maudie?
Review: This is a great John Wayne flick.
Rating:
Summary: El Dorado
Review: This is another John Wayne movies with him at his best. There are several stars from other tv programs that are in this one. The whole family will enjoy this one as with any John Wayne movie!
Rating:
Summary: The best Wane flick
Review: This is my all-time favorite John Wayne flick. Most lists I see list "The Searchers" as the best, but I disagree. This is essentially a reworking of "Rio Bravo", but you get better co-stars here with Robert Mitchum and James Caan. Plus you don't have the unrealistic sing-a-long that occurs in the middle of "Bravo" In this movie Cole Thornton (Wayne) is a hired gunman in town to help out in a range war. Before he goes out to meet his new boss, Bart Jason (Ed Asner), he meets his old buddy J. P. Harrah (Mitchum). Harrah convinces Thornton that he'd be fighting for the wrong side. Later, Thornton is in another town, where he meets up with Nils McCloud (Christopher George), who is off to El Dorado to take the job Thornton turned down. McCloud tells Thornton that Harrah is now a hopeless drunk, so of course, this being a Wayne flick, Thornton has to ride to the rescue. Along the way he is accompanied by Alan Bedillian Traherne ("Yeah, that's why most people call me 'Mississippi'.") and Bull (Arthur Hunnicut). The end is a shootout worthy of the name.
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