The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)

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

Director:

Gene Kelly

Writers:

James Lee Barrett, Davis Grubb (novel)

Stars:

James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley Jones

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Anderson
Dabbs Greer	...	Willowby
Jackie Russell	...	Carrie Virginia
Jackie Joseph	...	Annie Jo
Sharon DeBord	...	Sara Jean (as Sharon De Bord)
Richard Collier	...	Nathan Potter
Charles Tyner	...	Charlie Bannister
Jean Willes	...	Alice
Robert J. Wilke	...	Corey Bannister

Storyline

Out of the blue, the grizzled farm hand, John O'Hanlan, receives an unexpected letter from an unknown solicitor in the far off town of Cheyenne, Wyoming, informing him that he is the proud owner of the Cheyenne Social Club, now that his estranged brother, D.J., has passed away. Eager to trade in the dusty landscapes of 1867 Texas for an easy life as a businessman--and at the same time intrigued--John sets out on a long trip along with his best friend, Harley Sullivan, to create a better future for himself. Somehow, John's newest and only acquisition has both a good and a bad reputation; either way, the establishment's inexperienced manager now holds the fates of its loyal staff in his hands: a beautiful sextet of dedicated, and above all, popular female employees. However, is John cut out for business?

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Plot Keywords:

1860s | henchman | song | singer | singing | 

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Taglines:

That's what they called it in 1867

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features the only nude scene in a James Stewart movie (Elaine Devry).

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Goofs

At the time of filming, Jimmy Stewart was sixty-one, With the film set in 1867, his character would have been born in 1806. His character says he was born in the Texas panhandle. At the time, and up through the 1850's Commanche opposition to whites was so fierce that it would have been impossible to settle there. There was a trading post at Adobe Walls that was the scene of a pitched battle, leaving the post abandoned and with the Army issuing an warning for whites to stay out of the panhandle. In fact, the Chisholm trail detoured west to New Mexico territory before heading north specifically to avoid passing through the hostile situation in the panhandle.

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Quotes

John O'Hanlan: Well, how much money does he need to get her liver fixed?
Jenny: Five hundred dollars.
John O'Hanlan: Five hundred dollars for a liver?
Jenny: That's what the big doctor in Chicago charges. And he's got all kinds of fancy letters in back of his name.
John O'Hanlan: I don't care what's in back of his name! Five hundred dollars - that's more than you have to pay for a good horse!

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Connections

Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Stewart (1980)

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Soundtracks

One Dream
Music and Lyrics by Walter Scharf, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 June 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cheyenne Social Club

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross USA:

$107,300

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eaves Movie Ranch, National General Pictures, National General Production Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1