Jimmy Stewart plays the role of E.W. “Doc” Hostetler in this 1976 John Wayne film. “Doc” has to tell John Wayne’s character that he has terminal cancer and will die an agonizing death.
No soundtrack album was released at the time of the film. For years, only a few tracks from the Elmer Bernstein scored soundtrack were available on various albums and CD’s, including the following:
John Wayne Volume Two – Varese Sarabande 704.350 (LP/1986) & VCD 47264 (CD/1986)
The Utah Symphony Orchestra played four songs from the soundtrack on this release:
Main Title
Ride
In the Fire
Epilogue
Here is Ride:
Great Composers: Elmer Bernstein – Varese Sarabande 302-066-077 (1999)
Again the Utah Symphony Orchestra supplied the music to just one song from the film:
The Shootist (Main Title)
True Grit: Elmer Bernstein – Varese Sarabande 302 066 726 2 (2006)
The same four tracks were included here as on the John Wayne Volume Two release.
Here is In the Fire:
The Magnificent Westerns – Silva America SILCD 1202 (February 7, 2006)
Only The Shootist (Main Title) was included here, this time played by the City of Prague Orchestra.
Finally, in 2013, a sound track for the entire film was issued (La-La Land Records LLLCD 1254).
Main Title (Theme from The Shootist)
“D”/Prognosis
Ride
Attack
Pain/Promise
Farewells
Sweeney
Shootout
Decision/Epilogue
The CD was limited to 2000 copies and also featured the sound track from another Elmer Bernstein scored John Wayne film, The Sons of Katie Elder.
All the music is from the June 7-8, 1976, session conducted by Bernstein. The booklet even has the names of all of the musicians playing on those sessions:
The one thing missing from the booklet is a photo of Jimmy Stewart. However, he is mentioned in the write-up for the track “D”/Prognosis:
Here is this track:
