Chisum is a 1970 American Warner Bros. western motion picture starring John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Geoffrey Deuel, Andrew Prine, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, and Richard Jaeckel.
Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, it was adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story, Chisum and the Lincoln County Cattle War.
Although this movie is historically inaccurate in many details, it is loosely based on events and characters from the Lincoln County War of 1878 in New Mexico Territory, which involved Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid among others.
Synopsis
John Chisum (played by Wayne), a virtuous, ranch-owning patriarch, locks horns with greedy Lawrence Murphy (played by Tucker), who will stop at nothing to get control of the trade and even the law in Lincoln County.
Chisum is an aging cattle baron with an eventful past and a paternalistic nature towards his fellow ranchers and the local community. Murphy, a malevolent land developer, however, plans to take control of Lincoln County for his own personal gain. The film starts with Murphy's men tipping off Mexican rustlers who plan to steal Chisum's horses. Chisum is able to stop the bandits with help from a newcomer to the area, William Bonney, also known as Billy the Kid (Geoffrey Deuel). Billy is a notorious killer, but has been given a chance to reform by Chisum's philanthropic ranch neighbour, Henry Tunstall (Patric Knowles). Billy gives cause for anxiety when he falls for Chisum's newly arrived niece, Sallie (Pamela McMyler).
Murphy is buying up all the stores in town and using his monopoly to push up the prices. He appoints his own sheriff and deputies, and brings in a lawyer, Alex McSween, (Andrew Prine), but McSween's principles lead him to switch sides and seek work with Chisum and Tunstall. The two ranchers set up their own bank and general store in town under McSween's control, but Chisum's land and cattle are also a target. Murphy's men attempt to steal Chisum's cattle the night before he is due to sell them to the Army. Chisum's ranch hands are warned by a passing buffalo hunter, Pat Garrett (Glenn Corbett). Garrett agrees to help Chisum and soon befriends Bonney. Together they foil an attack by Murphy's men on the wagons bringing in provisions for the new store.
Fed up with Murphy's underhand activities, Tunstall rides off to Santa Fe to seek the intervention of the governor. On the way he is intercepted by Murphy's deputies who falsely accuse him of cattle rustling and shoot him dead. Chisum and Garrett hunt down the deputies and ride them back towards town for trial. Bonney, seeking revenge for the murder of his mentor, overpowers Garrett and shoots dead both deputies. Before the sheriff can organise a posse, Billy rides into town and kills him too.
Murphy appoints bounty hunter Dan Nodeen (Christopher George) as the new sheriff, and orders him to hunt down Bonney. Nodeen has a score to settle, as a previous encounter with Bonney has left him with a permanent limp.
Billy's plans for revenge, however, are only just beginning. He breaks into McSween's store looking for dynamite. He is spotted by Nodeen, who gets Murphy's men to surround the store. McSween comes out unarmed but Nodeen shoots him in cold blood. Chisum is alerted by McSween's wife and rides into town. The main street is blocked, but Chisum stampedes his cattle through the barricades. He tracks down Murphy and takes him on in a fist fight which ends with both men falling from a balcony, Murphy ending up impaled on steer horns. With his paymaster dead, Nodeen flees with Billy in pursuit.
The film ends with Garrett taking over as sheriff and settling down with Sallie, leaving Chisum to resume his iconic vigil over the Pecos valley.
Production
Michael A. Wayne, executive producer, took on the project of making Chisum because he felt the story summed up well his father's political views. The sizeable cast is packed with familiar faces from earlier John Wayne films, as well as friends such as Forrest Tucker. It was filmed in 1969 in Durango, Mexico. The picturesque vistas of the area were captured by cinematographer William H. Clothier. John Wayne was on the set of Chisum when he heard of his nomination for an Academy Award in 1970 for True Grit.
During filming, John Mitchum, brother of Robert, introduced John Wayne to his patriotic poetry. Seeing that Wayne was greatly moved by the word, Forrest Tucker suggested that the two collaborate to record some of the poetry, which resulted in a Grammy-nominated spoken-word album, America: Why I Love Her.
Box office and reception
Released in June 1970, it was a relative success, grossing over $12 million at the box office.
American President Richard Nixon saw the film in the White House on July 31, 1970. He professed it to be one of his favorite movies, going so far as to use the context of it to explain his views on law and order.
Cast
References
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