'Hellfighters' sees the iconic actor John Wayne swap his revolver and saddle for a water cannon and private jet; his firefighting adventures are shared with his younger partner, played by Jim Hutton, and – disapprovingly – his daughter, played by Katharine Ross. This title could have explored the strains and stresses of a dangerous occupation, and how it affects family life, but the film tragically falls short of saying anything profound or meaningful. In his later films, John Wayne often adopted the role of an on-screen mentor to a younger companion or accomplice. This sometimes worked well, for instance in the films 'Big Jake' and 'True Grit'; sadly, the "father-son" relationship of John Wayne and Jim Hutton comes across as quite uninspired in this film. The action in 'Hellfighters' – largely consisting of firefighting and the occasional bar-brawl – is promising to begin with, but quickly deteriorates due to its repetitiveness, and the outcomes are generally predictable. The most seasoned of John Wayne fans may be able to derive some minor enjoyment from this title, but to everyone else I say: look elsewhere.
Review of Hellfighters
