Chisum (1970)

Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. Starring John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Geoffrey Deuel, Patric Knowles, Ben Johnson, Pamela McMyler, Andrew Prine, Glenn Corbett, Christopher George, Bruce Cabot, Lynda Day, Richard Jaeckel.

No better than a third-tier John Wayne Western, but there are worse ways to occupy one’s time. Here he plays a real person, cattle baron John Chisum, whose life intersected with the much-ballyhooed story of Billy the Kid (Deuel) and Pat Garrett (Corbett). The main thrust of the story involves Chisum butting heads (and worse) with corrupt businessman and racketeer Lawrence Murphy (Tucker). The story is just interesting enough to hold attention, and involves a large enough cast of characters so that Wayne’s spartan acting style never fully dominates (which would have made Chisum into just another cut-and-paste cowboy played by the Duke). McLaglen’s direction of the actors and Andrew J. Fenady’s script is pretty routine; has a pretty good action climax with an extended shootout and cattle stampede through town, but it’s not an especially scenic road getting there. Supporting cast is full of recognizable faces, including small roles for John Agar, two of the Mitchums (but not Robert), and Ray Teal; it was the final film for the latter.

60/100