If an award were to be given for the most underrated John Wayne Western of his later years, there's no doubt that Cahill would get our vote.

In some ways it is a companion film to the previous year's The Cowboys, which also involved Wayne with children. In this case the boys are his character's own sons, two wild minors who get involved in robbery and murder.

Wayne has to round up the 'galoots' responsible, to help the boys out of what becomes a very scary scrape, and the results make thundering entertainment.

The action is slightly stylised - an unusual departure for the director, Andrew V McLaglen - with George Kennedy in one of his meatiest roles as the villain who might well have stepped straight out of theatrical high melodrama.

Joseph Biroc's camerawork is highly skilled, especially since much of the action takes place at night, and never sacrifices clarity in the cause of realism. And you'll love both the thunder and lightning finale and the performances of Neville Brand as Wayne's friend Chief Lightfoot.