Chisum *** (1970, John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Bruce Cabot, Andrew Prine, Patric Knowles, Richard Jaeckel, Lynda Day) – Classic Movie Review 6730

Director Andrew V McLaglen’s strong and solid 1970 Western stars John Wayne, aged 63, as New Mexico cattle-king John Chisum, who takes on the treacherous landowners and the rancid officials who threaten his peaceful way of life.

McLaglen’s movie is agreeably feisty, fast-moving and full-of-action, though it is a familiar and featherweight Western, re-treading old territory, even if quite nimbly. Chisum is notably well made (with nods to Wayne’s mentor John Ford), richly photographed by William H Clothier and most interestingly cast, but perhaps it does not quite live up to its promise.

As usual, it is mainly a star showcase for Wayne, who gives sterling service, but there is space for the character actors to shine too, and Forrest Tucker particularly enjoys himself as Wayne’s wicked cattleman rival Lawrence Murphy, and so do Glenn Corbett and Geoffrey Deuel as Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (William Bonney), who ride to Big John’s rescue in the Lincoln County land wars.

Also notable in the cast are Patric Knowles as Chisum’s fellow honest ranch owner Henry Tunstall, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Bruce Cabot as Sheriff Brady, Andrew Prine, Richard Jaeckel, Lynda Day George, Pamela McMyler, Lloyd Battista, Robert Donner, John Agar, Ray Teal, Edward Faulkner, Ron Soble, Glenn Langan, Alan Baxter, Pedro Armendáriz Jr, Alberto Morin, William Bryant, Abraham Sofaer, John Mitchum, Christopher Mitchum, John Pickard, Gregg Palmer, Chuck Roberson, Hank Worden, José Torvay, Jim Burk, Eddy Donno, Bob Morgan and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez.

For better or worse, it is a simple, straightforward, old-fashioned movie, celebrating old-style virtues. There is no depth here, just when the Western had become much more adult and grown-up thanks to Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah.

William (Cannon) Conrad narrates over the opening credits.

Chisum is directed by Andrew V McLaglen, runs 110 minutes, is a Batjac film, released by Warner Bros, is written by Andrew J Fenady, based on his story Chisum and the Lincoln County Cattle War, shot by William H Clothier, produced by Michael Wayne and Andrew J Fenady, and scored by Dominic Frontière.

Lynda Day George.

Lynda Day first met Christopher George while appearing in The Gentle Rain (1966). They fell in love when they were reunited to make Chisum and they married after its release in 1970. They appeared in several films together up to Mortuary (1983), after which Christopher George died of a heart attack, aged 54.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6730

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