The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)

Director:

Gene Kelly

Writer:

James Lee Barrett (writer)

Release Date:

12 June 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

Where the West Was Really Made

Plot:

An aging cowboy finds to his embarrassment that the successful business he has inherited from his brother is actually a house of prostitution.

Plot Keywords:

Prostitution | Cowboy | Brothel | Inheritance | Barroom Brawl

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Stewart	...	John O'Hanlan
Henry Fonda	...	Harley Sullivan
Shirley Jones	...	Jenny
Sue Ane Langdon	...	Opal Ann
Elaine Devry	...	Pauline
Robert Middleton	...	Barkeep (Great Plains Saloon)
Arch Johnson	...	Marshal J. L. Barrett
Dabbs Greer	...	Jedediah W. Willowby
Jackie Russell	...	Carrie Virginia
Jackie Joseph	...	Annie Jo
Sharon DeBord	...	Sara Jean
Richard Collier	...	Nathan Potter
Charles Tyner	...	Charlie Bannister
Jean Willes	...	Alice
Robert J. Wilke	...	Corey Bannister

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

National General Pictures

Trivia:

The political subtext was a reference to the real life political differences of James Stewart and Henry Fonda.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When John and Harley are crossing the railroad tracks to see the Cheyenne Social Club for the first time, it is apparent from the camera angle that the last structure on the right is only a facade with no building behind it.

Quotes:

John O'Hanlan: Harley, this is more money than I ever dreamed! Do-do-do you know what I can do with this much money?
Harley Sullivan: We passed some nice looking saloons.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fonda on Fonda (1992) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Rolling Stone

Lasting Impressions from a Serviceable Western

My lasting memory from seeing this film in a large screen theater in 1970 is the opening scene: Fonda and Stewart at work on a snowy range with other cowboys before Stewart gets notified of his inheritance.

I don't think the film made much money upon initial release, but when it was shown on US network television in the late seventies, it was the number one telecast for the week. Back in those pre multi cable days, I'm sure some grasping producer (Glenn Larson type) was contemplating a pilot for a few weeks.