thefinalcredits
'We may have to be neighbours, but I don't have to be neighbourly.'A year after his Academy-Award winning performance as Rooster Cogburn, the Duke starred in this unremarkable traditional Western vehicle. Loosely based on the history of the 'Lincoln County War' of 1878, the sole screenplay of any weight produced by Andrew J Fenady, an amateur expert on this conflict, employs great artistic licence. As such, although the titular figure was a substantial New Mexico cattle baron, who, alongside his business associates, challenged the monopoly enjoyed by the local crime boss, Lawrence Murphy, he did not, as depicted here, play a lead role in the armed conflict which ensued. Yet, when Wayne's son and producer, Michael, read the adapted storyline of a man forced to take the law into his own hands to avenge the deaths of his friends, he knew it would appeal to his father's politics. The obvious choice for director was Andrew V. McLaglen, having directed Wayne in 'McLintock' seven years earlier - another story of a cattle rancher attempting to preserve law and order. Likewise, Wayne's favourite cinematographer, William Clothier, was recruited to add his beautiful expansive shots, such as that opening vista of Chisum's territory. Aside from the regular cast faces known as the 'John Wayne Stock Company', this film reunited a few cast members from Wayne's only other feature to garner him an Oscar nomination for lead actor - 'The Sands of Iwo Jima'. Chief among these was Forrest Tucker, cast as Murphy, who again here would play Wayne's sparring partner, and Richard Jaekel, as Murphy's henchman. Yet, the expansive cast of characters interrupts any flow to the narrative, while McLaglen tries, and fails, to capture the majesty and charm which permeate the works of John Ford. In addition, the film falls prey to all the usual clichés of the genre, though what dates the movie above all else are the opening credits and the much-derided title song - narrated by former actor, and voice artist, William Cannon, who would become TV detective, Cannon, the following year. The aforementioned artistic license is most evident in the interaction between Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. Not only, would the writer have us believe that Garrett, played superbly by Glenn Corbett, would fraternise with the 'Kid', ahead of their infamous encounter, but also compete with him as a love rival over Chisum's niece. The latter is portrayed without much spark by Pamela McMyler in the most prominent role of her career - a more than passing resemblance to Bridget Fonda? - and this sub-plot grates, especially with Merle Haggard's 'Glen Campbell imitation' ballad. By contrast, Geoffrey Deuell, younger brother to the ill-fated star of 'Alias Smith & Jones', copes well enough in his thankless task of portraying the 'Kid's' inner conflict to control his homicidal tendencies. Though the director was proud of capturing this figure's humanity, there can be no escaping the banality of such scenes as when Bonney is literally shown weighing up in both hands the power of his gun and the Bible. The other principal character to be transformed by the writer's pen is that of Chisum's business associate, and the 'Kid's employer, Tunstall. Not only is his Christian name needlessly changed, but portrayed as much older than the real Tunstall - thereby allowing Patric Knowles, Flynn's Will Scarlett, to take on the mantle armed with a pipe - whose murder, in his twenties, was the catalyst to the subsequent fighting. If there is a saving grace, it is the entertaining and charismatic presence that was the Duke. Similarly, the production benefits from the 'light relief offered by Ben Johnson as Chisum's killjoy sidekick. Finally, entering this outmoded depiction of the West, like some stray figure from the revisionist strand of the genre, appears the unshaven and steely- eyed Christopher George as the fictitious bounty-hunter, Dan Nodeen. Though this appearance did not spark a spate of more prominent Hollywood roles, it did spark romance with co-star Lynda Day leading ironically to marriage to the man who shoots her on-screen husband in cold blood. The finale has the final showdown between Chisum and Murphy in a fight to the death, when the truth is that in reality they would both end their days dying peacefully in bed. This clash embittered Wayne due to the easily discernible presence of his long- term stunt double, Cliff Roberson. Most laughably, there is the comical appearance of the Duke, obviously hiding out of shot while his double takes the fall down the stairs. Overall, passable entertainment, but, given McLaglen'lengthy stretch in the directorial seat for 'Gunsmoke' resembling more of an extended version of a 'Bonanza' episode than a 'Tinseltown' classic.
Ed-Shullivan
Mrs. Shullivan and I just wanted to watch a film that would keep us entertained and enjoy just a couple of hours of another John Wayne western. We were not disappointed. John Wayne plays cattle and land baron John Chisum. He never married and lived a rugged life fighting Indians, thieves, droughts and storms as he grew his land into the most desired in all of New Mexico. Of course there are other wealthy cattle barons who will stoop as low as one has to go to take away what Chisum has worked his entire life to build. That dastardly task goes to another well known western star Forrest Tucker who plays Cattle baron Lawrence Murphy. Now Murphy hires a large group of gunmen led by bounty hunter Dan Nodeen played by Christopher George.Other crooked cowboys on Murphys payroll include Jess Evans (Richard Jaeckel), Riker (Gregg Palmer) and even a dirty sheriff named Brady (Bruce Cabot). But with any great western the good guys need to prevail and on Chisum's side he has Pat Garrett (Glenn Corbett), young gunslinger Billy the Kid (Geoffrey Deuel) and Chisum's old friend and ride'em cowboy James Pepper played by the versatile actor Ben Johnson. This western also have some lovely ladies in the mix with with Sue McSween (Lynda Day George)and Chisum's niece Sally (Pamela McMyler) who just came to New Mexico to live with her uncle John Chisum. So the movie pits the old and ornery John Chisum against a land stealing scoundrel named Lawrence Murphy. Of course there will be fisticuffs, beer and whiskey drinking cowboys, guns a blazing to keep the action of a good western intact. But we do have a decent storyline pitting a fair and understanding land baron in John Chisum (John Wayne) who isn't afraid to resort to the tactics that helped him gain his land over the past 40 years, and a loyal group of fast guns loyal to Chisum in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid to counter the gunslingers who want to steal Chisum's land by way of the gun. Chisum is a classic John Wayne western that will not disappoint. I give it a strong 8 out of 10 and Mrs. Sullivan also gave it two thumbs up.
Wuchak
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
