McLaglen's western showcases Wayne as John Simpson Chisum, an historical figure who was the largest owner of land, of horses and cattle in New Mexico territory around 1878
The Pecos River runs through the middle of his land
He lets the water flow to all the ranches, big and small
If another man, with more appetitelike Lawrence Murphy (Forrest Tucker) owned that land he'd control a territory bigger than most states and some countries
The story is based on the bloody Lincoln County cattle war
Things come to 'one hell of a fight' when Murphy's men kill Chisum's friend Henry Tunstall, mentor to Billy the Kid, and have Alex McSween, manager of their general store, with Billy and some men, trapped in
Forrest Tucker plays Chisum's enemy who really thinks himself skillful enough to 'own' the law
Christopher George (Dan Nodeen) plays the half-crazy bounty hunter who gimps because of Billy the Kid
Ben Johnson has one of the most impressive records of any supporting Westerner
He came here to support Chisum all the way
Andrew V. McLaglen has built up a reputation as one of the most promising of post-war directors of Westerns, but has yet to fulfill that promise with a really major work
