Chisum (1970)

A typical star-driven late 60's Hollywood-oater, "Chisum" was entertaining but it's easy to see the rising appeal of grittier, harder Westerns like 1969's "The Wild Bunch" (a film reportedly disliked by John Wayne). Other than the iconic Wayne as the titular character and the always great Ben Johnson as his muttering sidekick, most of the cast looked like Hollywood actors and actresses playing at 'old-west' – hairstyles seemed anachronistic, women had tight fitting dresses, everyone had perfect teeth etc. Billy the Kid was portrayed as a pretty nice guy with his on-screen killings always justified (at least by him) and lots of references to him learning to read, do sums etc., and again, his mentor Tunstall is portrayed as an older British father-figure (he was actually less than 10 years older that The Kid). After watching John Wayne play a lot of 'larger-than-life' heroes like John Chisum, it's not surprising that some people were surprised by his actual acting ability when he finally played a more complex and ambivalent character in "True Grit". What I most disliked about "Chisum" was the music, especially the clichéd opening Ballad of John Chisum and the intrusive "Sally" song. All-in-all, an OK old-school western from an era when the genre was moving away from white hats vs. black hats story lines to more realistic (at least as realistic as a highly-fictionalised era can be), dirtier, and bloodier films.

In the town of Lincoln, John Chisum (John Wayne) battles rustlers stealing his horses. He is concerned that greedy baron Lawrence Murphy is taking over as he buys up everything and pushing out the smaller operations. Murphy has even chosen the lawmen. Chisum and his men with honest rancher Tunstall, Pat Garrett, William Bonney aka Billy the Kid and others are forced to battle Murphy in his crocked schemes. Chisum opens his own bank and store to compete.It's a simplistic old fashion western. Chisum is the best of the good. It's not all necessary. For example, it's not really necessary for Chisum to stand up for the Indians. It becomes a bit clunky. Billy the Kid needs to be played by a more charismatic actor than Geoffrey Deuel. McSween is too idealistic bordering on idiocy. This is a movie of sharp black and white. The cattle stampede is quite impressive and there is plenty of good action. The sensibility is old fashion even in its times.

Released is 1970 and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, "Chisum" is based on the real-life Lincoln County War in New Mexico, which was a range war of feuding factions involving quite a few famous Old West people, like Billy the Kid (Geoffrey Deuel), sheriffs William Brady (Bruce Cabot) and Pat Garrett (Glenn Corbett), cattle rancher John Chisum (Wayne), lawyer and businessman Alexander McSween (Andrew Prine), and the organized crime boss Lawrence Murphy (Forrest Tucker). Christopher George is a highlight as a mean bounty hunter turned sheriff.As you can see, there are loads of characters and the film smartly takes its time setting them up and the social dynamics thereof. Everything explodes in the second half when one of the characters decides to take the law into his own hands. And who can blame him when the "law" is bought by money-man Murphy and is therefore corrupt? For another take on these same events see the excellent "Young Guns" (1988), which is a little more historically accurate.A film critic said "Chisum" was juvenile, but it's really not. Yes, there are some expertly choreographed gunfights, mostly in the final act, but the story is relayed in a realistic manner with quality characters and there's no goofy humor or slapstick, as in Ford's cavalry trilogy (1948-50). As far as women go, Pamela McMyler plays Chisum's likable niece and the Lynda Day George has a small role as the wife of the lawyer.Bottom Line: This is a realistic and rollicking latter-day Wayne Western based on real Old West characters. I rank it right behind "El Dorado" (1966) "True Grit" (1969), "The Cowboys" (1970) and "Rooster Cogburn." In its unique way, it's on par with "The Comancheros" (1961), "The War Wagon" (1967), "Rio Lobo" (1970) the underrated cult Western "The Train Robbers" (1973) and "The Shootist" (1976).The film runs 111 minutes and was shot in Durango, Mexico; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Calabasas, California.GRADE: B

John Chisum, as we learn early on, is an amalgamation of many sorts of characters that John Wayne played over his 40-something year career. He's a basic good guy who used to seek revenge, but now seeks only justice as he has learned that the price of revenge is usually destruction. With the powerful Forrest Tucker ("F-Troop's" hero and "Auntie Mame's" leading man) as the town villain causing trouble among the cattle men, Wayne and his brood (which includes Billy the Kid) set out to take him and his men down any way they can. Wayne wants to bring in the law to do it legally, while Geoffrey Deuel (as a very likable Billy the Kid) reads the wrong passages of the bible given to him and decides his way (murder) is the only way.This western starts off with a rousing title song saluting the hero, utilizing fascinating artwork over the credits to show him in his various exploits. A fascinating group of characters (both fact and fiction) come in to give this rousing western a bit more heart than normal, particularly, the gentle rancher played by Patric Knowles who gives Billy the Kid a bible with a special inscription. This father-like character makes the legendary outlaw stand out with many different facets as he takes revenge out of grief when Knowles is shot down by Tucker's men.Glenn Corbett is also very notable as Pat Garrett, an irony considering the later unrelated western "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" was probably in pre-production at the time. A minor subplot concerning Wayne's niece gives his character more heart, but fortunately doesn't boggle down the story here with unnecessary romance. The final shootout (which also includes a memorable cow stampede) is excitingly filmed, although the use of violence is much greater than normal. The shot of Wayne on his horse at the end is also quite memorable. Overall, this is quite a memorable film, and the title song, while no Oscar Winner, will linger on in your memory long after the movie is over.