John Wayne got a great send-off in his final movie, The Shootist, but a different late-career western 1972s The Cowboys would’ve been an even better swansong for the Hollywood icon. There are plenty of legendary actors who put their stamp on the western genre, from Clint Eastwood to James Stewart, but no actor is more intrinsically tied to the western than Wayne. Wayne starred in such classic westerns as Red River, Rio Bravo, and The Comancheros. Wayne initially made his name playing clear-cut heroes who spring into action and take down the bad guys without a moments hesitation.

https://screenrant.com/john-wayne-the-cowboys-movie-father-figure-last-western-recommendation/