Unless you count Jackie Chan's character in Shanghai Noon, this is my first John Wayne film. And it's not just John Wayne that's missing from my watch history - somehow the entire Western genre has been quite neglected (outside of a handful of modern Westerns). If this movie is any indication, I've been missing out on some great films. I'll admit, the opening threw me for a bit of a loop, with no dialogue or context to really appreciate the inciting incident. But the filmmakers knew what they were doing, as the process of learning who these characters are the implications of the opening scene makes things all the more enjoyable. My lack of western experience is probably an asset, because I'm told that there are plenty of recurring plot elements, but for me, the setup here was fresh and the execution was excellent. Yes, there's some contrivances and soft spots here and there, but the movie does a good job of sweeping you up in the story and maintaining the suspension of disbelief. On top of the compelling story, you've got some great characters and, most importantly, fantastic dialogue. Plenty of impactful lines and a surprising amount of wit/humor that is still effective even 60+ years later. Even the action, which is where old films most often show their age and lose modern audiences, was not a deal breaker - primarily because the film doesn't lean heavily on it.