weezeralfalfa
Yet another western from the first few decades of Hollywood talkies that exploits the names of several iconic persons of the wild West, but suffers from a bizarre combination of some reasonable historical accuracy, combined with blatant inaccuracy: sometimes presenting the opposite of what really happened. This shoot-em up Wayne western features 3 iconic names of the Old West: John Chisum, Billy the Kid, and Pat Garrett, who supposedly played important roles in the Lincoln County NM war of 1878. However, the participation of cattle baron Chisum(John Wayne)in this war is greatly magnified compared to the historic Chisum. The historic Pat Garrett, as a supposed frequent ally of Billy the Kid and Chisum during this war, wasn't even involved! He only became relevant a couple of years later, after Billy's gangs became bothersome rustlers. Chisum did have a niece: Sallie, who may have dabbled a bit romantically with Billy, but not with Garrett, who become the contestants for her heart in this story. Historically, the war involved primarily competition between the team of McSween and Tunstall vs, Murphy and Dolan. Both owned various businesses in the towns, as well as cattle. Chisum, whose land was to the south of Lincoln county, only got involved because he was a business partner with McSween. Dolan, who was the ultimate beneficiary of this conflict, isn't even included in the film! The deaths of Tunstall and McSween are reasonably accurately portrayed, as is the role of Billy and companions in executing some of those involved in the murder of his employer(Incidentally, Tunstall was only in his 20s, not the grandfatherly figure portrayed!). However, the dominant role of Murphy in the war, as well as the mode of his death, are blatant fabrications, if much more dramatic. In fact, the historic Murphy was quite sick from a cancer during this period, and would die within a few months after the war petered out. Dolan later bought the businesses and lands of the deceased Tunstall and McSween. Chisum certainly didn't help end the standoff between the two sides by stampeding cattle through the main street, half knocking down some of the flimsy set buildings! Historically, it was a cavalry unit that showed up to help end the siege.This is an old style western, played according to the iron clad censorship restrictions of the Hays commission from the '30s through much of the '60s. We have clear cut good and bad guys, for the most part, and some of the good guys survive as winners , for a happy ending. Chisum, his buddy James Pepper(Ben Johnson), Tunstall, Mcsween and Garrett are the main good guys. Murphy(Forrest Tucker) and his bunch, including Sheriff Brady, along with Neemo and his Mexican bandits, are the main bad guys. Billy is ambivalent in this respect. He kills a number of the main bad guys, but he's too quick and persistent in seeking revenge via vigilante shootings to suit Chisum and Garrett. Thus, in the end, he rides off alone, hoping to catch up with and shoot the now deceased Murphy's last hand-picked sheriff: Nodeen, who had just murdered McSween. The take home message is that wrong doing should be dealt with through the legal system. whenever possible, rather than by shoot-from-the hip vigilante justice. Of course, as history abundantly proves, going the legal route is often a slow, expensive, option, that doesn't necessarily achieve a greater measure of justice, especially when political corruption, financial resources, or ethnic prejudice, for example, is an overriding factor, or the accused can easily disappear. Besides, Billy's experience was that he lived in a kill or be killed, rustle or starve, world. Billy was less of a loner than here portrayed, always part of an outlaw or legitimate group. Technically, the film is well done, with excellent camera work. Wayne includes some well-known actors in Ben Johnson, Forrest Tucker, and Patrick Knowles, for example. The cattle stampede through town, to help break up the siege, is pretty spectacular, as is the fight between Wayne and Tucker, that ends in Murphy's(Tucker) death from a fall. Geoffrey Dueul probably comes across as too nonchalant for Billy, although Billy was reputedly a charmer. Pamela makes an appealing, big-eyed, Sallie Chisum, with a crush on the rightfully vengeful Billy, later realizing that Pat Garrett provided more realistic husband material.A couple years later, "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" would be released, directed by Sam Peckinpah. Unlike the present film, this dramatizes the later historic tangling of now sheriff Garrett and fugitive-from -justice Billy, a couple years after the conclusion of the Lincoln County war. Billy was then wanted for his recent rustling activity, as well as for his killings in the war and elsewhere. This film would take advantage of the recent much relaxed censorship rules, in presenting a much more realistic, gritty, world, of 1880 New Mexico. Garrett is portrayed with his worts, as well as virtues.Presently available as part of a TCM greatest classic films collection, which includes "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid", as well as "Ride the High Country", and "The Stalking Moon"
zardoz-13
Inevitably, a western cinematic legend like John Wayne had to make a movie about the relationship between Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett, and "Chisum" is the Duke's version of the infamous Lincoln County War. Wayne plays the New Mexico patriarch who had a vested interest in these tumultuous events. This Technicolor oater is memorable for the knuckle-busting fistfight finale between Wayne and villainous Forrest Tucker who plays his chief adversary Lawrence Murphy. Murphy and Chisum spar with one another throughout this 111-minute cattle empire sagebrusher. Caught in the middle of this fracas is a sympathetic British cattleman, John Tunstall, who gave Billy the Kid a job on his ranch. Murphy's dastardly henchmen bushwhack Tunstall and Billy launches a one man crusade against him. Andrew V. McLaglen, who had directed Wayne earlier in "McLintock!," "The Hellfighters," "The Undefeated," and "Cahill U.S. Marshal," helmed this tolerable western that qualifies as a potboiler. Aside from the fisticuffs at the end, Wayne only has one good confrontation scene at a river with a gang of rustlers. Geoffrey Duel, Pete Duel's younger brother, plays Billy, and he wears his six-gun in a holster on his right hip rather than his left like Paul Newman did in Arthur Penn's "The Left-Handed Gun." Several actors who appeared as regulars in Wayne's movies showed up, principally Ben Johnson as his foreman, Bruce Cabot as a slimy lawman, Glenn Corbett as Pat Garrett, along with John Agar, Christopher George, Hank Worden, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Edward Faulkner. Co-producer Andrew J. Fenady penned the historically inaccurate script, and William H. Clothier photographed this western with his characteristic aplomb. "Chisum" ranks as one of Wayne's lesser efforts. The action is pretty straightforward. "Hang'em High" composer Dominic Frontiere provided a good soundtrack, and the film has an authentic western flavor to it.
Desertman84
John Wayne top lines this biography of the cattle owner John Simpson Chisum, a controversial figure who was the most powerful man in New Mexico during the Wild West era in this film entitled,Chisum. Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Geoffrey Deuel, Andrew Prine, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles,Richard Jaeckel and Lynda Day George co-star to play key supporting role.It was written,produced and directed by Andrew J. Fenady.A founder and prominent citizen in the town of Lincoln, Chisum is slow to act when ruthless land baron Lawrence Murphy moves in on several local businesses and takes them over. By the time Chisum and his ally, fellow rancher Henry Tunstall, decide to go to the law, Murphy's already bought and paid for influence there, as well. The only recourse left to the cattlemen is to take Murphy on in all-out range war that embroils everyone in the county, including Tunstall's hand Billy the Kid Bonney and his comrade Pat Garrett.Like other Wayne movies, there's complete identification between reel and real life: Chisum is described as tough, trusting, generous and sentimental.This is showcases John Wayne in the twilight of his remarkable 200-plus film career.But nevertheless,he remains a commanding presence on the screen.Also,this remains a hallmark of a John Wayne film as it contains gorgeous scenery, plenty of action, and a good dose of humor.Overall,this movie is just like any other Western film that Wayne appears.
