MovieChat Forums > Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) Discussion > Lightfoot's Death *Spoilers*

Lightfoot's Death Spoilers

posted 11 years ago by spookyrat1
6 replies | jump to latest

I don't often have to stifle a giggle during a character's demise in a Duke film, but has any one else really had a good look at this.

Lightfoot chases the ambusher on horse, after taking one in the shoulder and the Duke having his mule taken out. At the first bush he comes too, he throws his gun away, sticks his head well and truly into the bush, to break off a branch to use as a lance??? I guess it may have been a play on the Commanche warrior thread that repeatedly played through his conversations with the Duke. But it didn't look really sensible in the circumstances and unsurprisingly, he ends up going to the happy hunting grounds in the sky.

BTW in the wash up at the end, I don't think his "sacrifice" is even mentioned to those naughty boys (whose actions indirectly caused his death).

[–] dustinthewind25 10 years ago

I feel the exact same way. I really like Neville Brand and the one thing I don't care much for about this movie is his character dying, and believe me, I noticed that his sacrifice wasn't acknowledged at the end. Same situation with Bruce Cabot in Big Jake. I mean, what the heck?

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

...the one thing I don't care much for about this movie is his character dying, and ..., I noticed that his sacrifice wasn't acknowledged at the end.

Yes, strange directorial and script treatments I would think.

[–] spiderguy_07 10 years ago

Lightfoot actually dropped his rifle when Brownie shot him the first time. He thew his knife away when he went to the bush to get the branch.

"I don't stop eating when I'm full... I stop eating when I hate myself!" - Louis C.K.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

I know it's 4 or 5 months ago since I posted and I don't have a copy of the dvd to recheck, and I'm definitely never one to say never, but I do remember rewinding a couple of times then to check and I felt sure he had his rifle and chucked it away into the bush, while I'm thinking "Why?"

[–] bari2525 9 years ago

I JUST watched this movie today on TMC, and was looking through this board while this scene was coming up...I was thinking "I don't remember him dying in this movie," but I haven't seen it in years, and ALL of my DVDs are in storage...

Anyway, as SOON as I thought that, I remembered everything about it.

Lightfoot is shot with a SHOTGUN (leaves a BIG pattern), and as he's reacting to being hit, his (actually, Cahill's) horse rears up, his arms fly up, and the rifle goes flying away...

THAT is why he had to improvise, and impale the bad guy (can't recall the SOB's name, even though I just watched it less than 5 hours ago - DANG I hate getting old!!

I don't act...I react. John Wayne

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

... as he's reacting to being hit, his ... rifle goes flying away...

You could be right. I'm like you and don't have access to a dvd, though it was on TV again around my parts about a month ago and I just didn't bother recording it again.

Spiderguy above says he lost his rifle in the original shooting and threw his knife away near the bush. That's not the way I remember it.

My recollection is that yes, as you mention, he gets shot in the shoulder, but then rides up to the bush and appears to deliberately throw his rifle away, then stick his head in the bush to pull out a hunk of wood.

May be he got shot again or something. Next time it's on (and it repeats pretty regularly)I'll try to remember to record again to double check.🐭