The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)

An aging lawman and an aging outlaw join forces when their respective positions in society are usurped by a younger, but incompetent, Marshal, and a younger, but vicious, gang leader.

Director:

Burt Kennedy

Writers:

Ronald M. Cohen, Dennis Shryack

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, George Kennedy, Martin Balsam

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Mitchum	...	Flagg
George Kennedy	...	McKay
Martin Balsam	...	Mayor Wilker
David Carradine	...	Waco
Tina Louise	...	Carmel
Douglas Fowley	...	Grundy (as Douglas V. Fowley)
Lois Nettleton	...	Mary
John Davis Chandler	...	Deuce
John Carradine	...	Ticker
Marie Windsor	...	Polly
Dick Peabody	...	Boyle
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Stone - Mother
Jimmy Murphy	...	Buckshot
Garrett Lewis	...	Hawkins
Nick Dennis	...	Engineer #2

Storyline

Marshal Flagg, an aging lawman about to be retired, hears that his old nemesis, the outlaw McKaye, is back in the area and planning a robbery. Riding out to hunt down McKaye, Flagg is captured by McKaye's gang and finds out that McKaye is no longer the leader of the gang, but is considered just an aging relic by the new leader, a youngster named Waco. Waco orders Mackaye to shoot Flagg, and when Mackaye refuses Waco abandons both of them. Flagg then takes Mackaye back to town only to find out that he has been "retired", and when he sees how clueless and incompetent the new marshal and the city fathers are, he persuades Mackaye that it is up to the two of them to stop Waco and his gang from ravaging the town.

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Plot Keywords:

two gun holster | gun holster | gun | holster | double gun holster | 

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Taglines:

The last of The Wildest Bunch shoots it out with a new breed of gunslinging glory-seekers.

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Un homme fait la loi

Filming Locations:

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Goldstein Productions,Ronden

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Mitchum admitted he regretted making this film.

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Goofs

During the chase after the train, a wagon with two men aboard appears to crash into a tall dead tree stump and overturns. However, the wire and bracket attached to the wagon to pull it over are clearly visible.

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Quotes

Mayor Wilker: [talking about the plan to stop the train] Why don't you take McKay here with you?
Flagg: He's one of 'em!
Mary: No he isn't... not any more... are you, Mr. McKay?
McKay: No, ma'am... not after they shot Grundy...

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Soundtracks

The Ballad of Marshal Flagg
Music by William Lava
Lyrics by Ned Washington
Sung by Glenn Yarbrough

User Reviews

Progress Posturing.

The Good Guys and the Bad Guys is directed by Burt Kennedy and written by Dennis Shryack. It stars Robert Mitchum, George Kennedy, Martin Balsam, David Carradine, Tina Louise, Lois Nettleton and Douglas Fowley. A Panavision/Technicolor production, music is by William Lava and cinematography by Harry Stradling Jr.

The town of Progress and Marshal Jim Flagg (Mitchum) learns that old foe John McKay (Kennedy) is about and robbery is soon to follow. However, Jim has difficulty convincing Mayor Wilker (Balsam) that any thing is up, the Mayor apparently more concerned with bed hopping and feathering his own political nest. So when Wilker prematurely retires Jim, sticking one of his lap-dogs into the role of Marshal, Jim sets about doing his own investigation. Pretty soon both Jim and John, one time enemies on either side of the law, find that both of them are out of time with an ever changing West.

Amiable. Burt Kennedy's film doesn't have the best of reputations, seemingly the blend of comedy and drama not teasing out much interest from the Western enthusiasts. It's true enough to say that the main theme, that of the changing West and two men finding themselves relics of the time, is ultimately playing second fiddle to the frivolity, while the finale tips over into over zealous slapstick farcery, yet Kennedy and Shryack imbue the picture with a genuine love of the genre. The director lets the pairing of Mitchum and Kennedy unfurl naturally, whilst also giving Balsam license to have a great time, thus all key performers are ever watchable. Scenic delights await within as Chama and Silverton provide location oomph, and the action quotient is in good supply.

Disposable for sure, but fun while it's on. 6.5/10