Chisum (1970)

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writer:

Andrew J. Fenady (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

29 July 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Western

Tagline:

THE HERO - John Wayne is "Chisum"

Plot:

Cattle baron John Chisum joins forces with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett to fight the Lincoln County land war.

Plot Keywords:

Cattle Baron | Pat Garrett | Bank | Billy The Kid | Cattle

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Wayne	...	John Chisum
Forrest Tucker	...	Lawrence Murphy
Christopher George	...	Dan Nodeen
Ben Johnson	...	James Pepper
Glenn Corbett	...	Pat Garrett
Andrew Prine	...	Alex McSween
Bruce Cabot	...	Sheriff Brady
Patric Knowles	...	Henry Tunstall
Richard Jaeckel	...	Jess Evans
Lynda Day George	...	Sue McSween (as Lynda Day)
Geoffrey Deuel	...	Billy 'The Kid' Bonney
Pamela McMyler	...	Sallie Chisum
John Agar	...	Amos Patton
Lloyd Battista	...	Neemo
Robert Donner	...	Bradley Morton
Ray Teal	...	Justice J.B. Wilson
Edward Faulkner	...	James J. Dolan
Ron Soble	...	Charley Bowdre
John Mitchum	...	Baker
Glenn Langan	...	Colonel Nathan Dudley
Alan Baxter	...	Gov. Sam Axtell
Alberto Morin	...	Juan Delgado
William Bryant	...	Jeff - Head Wrangler
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Ben (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
Christopher Mitchum	...	Tom O'Folliard
John Pickard	...	Sgt. Braddock
Abraham Sofaer	...	Chief White Buffalo
Gregg Palmer	...	Karl Riker
Hank Worden	...	Stationmaster Elwood
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez	...	Mexican Rancher
Jim Burk	...	Trace - Wrangler
Eddy Donno	...	Cass
Bob Morgan	...	Pegleg on Street
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Conrad	...	Narrator - Opening Credits (voice) (uncredited)
José Ángel Espinosa 'Ferrusquilla'	...	Governor's Aide (uncredited)
Ron Fletcher	...	Doctor (uncredited)
'Chico' Hernandez	...	Boy on Town (uncredited)
John Kelly	...	Minister (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	...	Wrangler (uncredited)
Josh McLaglen	...	Young Boy Loading Wagon (uncredited)
Mary McLaglen	...	Young Girl (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	...	Trail Herder (uncredited)
José Torvay	...	Mexican Blacksmith (uncredited)
Trinidad Villa	...	Blacksmith (uncredited)
Ralph Volkie	...	Blacksmith (uncredited)
Henry Wills	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrew V. McLaglen

Writing credits
Andrew J. Fenady		(written by)
Andrew J. Fenady		(story "Chisum and the Lincoln County Cattle War") uncredited

Produced by
Andrew J. Fenady	....	producer
Michael Wayne	....	executive producer (as Michael A. Wayne)

Original Music by
Dominic Frontiere

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
Carl Anderson

Set Decoration by
Ray Moyer

Makeup Department
Dave Grayson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph C. Behm	....	unit production manager
Joel Chernoff	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred R. Simpson	....	assistant director
Emilio Fernández	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Harry S. Franklin	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Joe Nayfack	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ray Thompson	....	property
Russ Vickers	....	artist: paintings
Irwin 'Eppy' Epstein	....	drapery (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Ferguson	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Howard Jensen	....	special effects

Stunts
Dick Bullock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Burk	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddy Donno	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Feazell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gary McLarty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Bob Orrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Sutton	....	stills
Richard Barth	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Carl Gibson	....	key grip (uncredited)
George Gordon Nogle	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Frederic J. Smith	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
James V. Vajana	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luster Bayless	....	wardrobe
Michael J. Harte	....	wardrobe (as Michael Harte)

Music Department
Sonny Burke	....	music supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
George Coleman	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Larry Bees	....	title designer: main titles
Art Shinbo	....	title designer: main titles
Marshall J. Wolins	....	script supervisor
'Chema' Hernandez	....	livestock coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (as WB A Kinney National Company)
• Batjac Productions (as A Batjac Production)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros.)
• Warner Bros. (1970) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1970) (Finland) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Warner Bros. (1970) (France) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1996) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanvideo (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• TV3 (1989) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 (theatrical rating: 1970) | USA:G | UK:PG (video rating) (1988) (1999) | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-11 (new rating: 2001) | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | France:U | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Century Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

John Wayne's son, Patrick Wayne played Pat Garrett in Young Guns (1988), another movie about the Lincoln County Wars of 1878.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Lawrence Murphy was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March, 1877. He sold his interest in the company to his partners, Dolan and Riley. The company was renamed Jas. J. Dolan & Co. Murphy was in Santa Fe during most of the Lincoln County War. He died of the cancer on Oct. 20, 1878.

Quotes:

Jess Evans:Why get in a frazzle over Chisum? You turn me loose on him... there'll be a sudden funeral right here in Lincoln.
Lawrence Murphy:Uh-huh. Yours.
Jess Evans:How's that?
Lawrence Murphy:Do you play chess?
Jess Evans:Chess? What the hell has that got to do with Chisum?
Lawrence Murphy:Everything. You just leave him alone. I'll take care of Mr. Chisum.
Sheriff Brady:That ain't gonna be easy.
Lawrence Murphy:You're right. But see, there's a fundamental difference between Mr. Chisum and me.
Sheriff Brady:Yeah, what's that?
Lawrence Murphy:Mr. Chisum is a man who respects the law.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Big Jake (1971)

Soundtrack:

Ballad of John Chisum

Odd, but good Western

The odd thing about this western is that it has the notorious murderer, Billy the Kid, as a good-guy vigilante. This break in history adds some questionable moments in the film. Also the movie relies heavily on The Kid character, more so than does the character of John Chisum(Wayne). This aside, it is still a great film, as John Wayne plays the traditional role of Justice vs. Tyranny. Forrest plays the role of "the villain you love to hate" completely, but does not over do it. One of the most memorable lines of the show is the confrontation of the "Duke" and the town boss. The town boss had relied on a puppet sheriff, as well as a weak governor to promote his control of the town. When Chisum confronts the boss, he mentions,(something to this effect) [When you try to take over my land], "...I won't call the Rangers, I won't call the Governor, I won't send a letter to the President, I come after you myself!" Traditional line of the Duke, but never so passionately delivered. This scene alone makes the movie worthwhile. It also has the traditional western action, but don't be surprised if you question yourself at the end, "Was I actually rooting for Billy the Kid?