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John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett ... see more see more... , Andrew Prine , Bruce Cabot , Geoffrey Deuel , Pamela McMyler , Patric Knowles , Richard Jaeckel , Lynda Day George , John Agar , Lloyd Battista , Robert Donner , Ray Teal , Edward Faulkner , Ron Soble , John Mitchum , Alan Baxter , Alberto Morin , William Bryant , Pedro Armendariz Jr. , Christopher Mitchum , Abraham Sofaer , Gregg Palmer , Jim Burk , Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez , Glenn Langan , Bob Morgan , John M. Pickard , Chuck Roberson , Ralph Volkie , Hank Worden , Eddy Donno , Chris George

John Wayne toplines this biography of the cattle owner John Simpson Chisum, a controversial figure who was the most powerful man in New Mexico during the Wild West era. A founder and prominent citizen... read more read more... in the town of Lincoln, Chisum is slow to act when ruthless land baron Lawrence Murphy (Forrest Tucker) moves in on several local businesses and takes them over. By the time Chisum and his ally, fellow rancher Henry Tunstall (Patrick Knowles), decide to go to the law, Murphy's already bought and paid for influence there, as well. The only recourse left to the cattlemen is to take Murphy on in all-out range war that embroils everyone in the county, including Tunstall's hand Billy the Kid Bonney (Geoffrey Deuel) and his comrade Pat Garrett (Glenn Corbett). Screenwriter and producer Andrew J. Fenady based the script for Chisum (1970) on his own short story, a very loosely fact-based account of Chisum, Billy the Kid and their involvement in the Lincoln County wars. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

7,230 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

5 critics

G, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Andrew V. McLaglen, Andrew Mc Laglen

Release Date: July 29, 1970

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DVD Release Date: June 3, 2003

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Stats: 227 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (227)

  • deano
    November 15, 2009
    deano
    The best of the John Wayne westerns directed by Andrew V. McLagden, this sprawling epic centers around the revenge sought by Billy the Kid after his mentor is murder by the corrupt, land-grabbing bad guys. These scenes looked familiar since I last watched 1988's Young Guns.
  • garyX
    May 8, 2007
    garyX
    A pretty bog standard outing for the duke. It ticks all the relevant horse opera boxes, but lacks the inspiration of his collaborations with John Ford.
  • flbeachboy
    November 20, 2010
    flbeachboy
    One of John Waynes all time best movies, John Wayne acted with perfection like usaul and I enjoyed a great performance by Forrest Tucker.
  • TonyPolito
    August 16, 2010
    TonyPolito
    Not anywhere near the most awe-inspiring of John Wayne Westerns, this being quite late in his career. But, still, we ARE talking The Duke here.

    The film outlines true facts regarding the violent conflict between cattlemen John Chisum and L.G. Murphy known as the Lincoln County ... read moreWars. By 1878, Lincoln County and The Pecos is a fairly well-settled, well-claimed part of the New Mexico Territory; the daily stagecoach arrives with affluent Easterners (including lovely ladies in their finest) most every afternoon, looking to stake some claim on their future.

    Blackhatter Murphy (Forest Tucker) holds a monopoly in banking and dry goods - and sells cattle to the government that he rustles from others. Plus Murphy's got the sheriff and The Governor in his back pocket. And by expanding his control over the water supply, Murphy's planning to get even richer off the increasing population.

    Local cattleman John Chisum (Wayne, of course) is going to fight to change all that. With some help from Pat Garrett (Corbett), and despite some two-timing by Billy the Kid (pretty-boy Deuel), that is.

    The film's clearly influenced by the success of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" just the year prior; breezier subplots/scenes are injected and Glen Campbell's gentle voice provides some of the score.

    Another artifact from the time: introductory voiceover by William Conrad, the portly star of the "Cannon" gumshoe TV series.

    RECOMMENDATION: Despite the shortcomings, Wayne ridin' for righteousness - plus the true telling of one of the Old West's most legendary conflicts - equals worthy one-spin viewing.
  • torjohnson3
    August 11, 2008
    torjohnson3
    Good late-period Western from Wayne. Features a great group of grizzled veterans as well as at the time "new" faces. Purports to be based on the Lincoln county war in N. Mex
  • maxpowerhjays
    January 27, 2008
    maxpowerhjays
    my dad watches this every time it comes on so ive probably seen it 20 times and its still pretty good
  • thecrow8
    July 4, 2007
    thecrow8
    This was a pretty good western. John Wayne is cocky, funny, and sarcastic. He tells people how he feels about them the second he meets them. This is worth a look.
  • MovieGuruDude72
    May 25, 2007
    MovieGuruDude72
    One of the Duke's weaker films, but not because of him, but because he's really nothing more than a footnote in the story.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
August 2, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Like other Wayne movies, there's complete identification between reel and real life: Chisum is described as "fat wealthy, tough, trusting, stubborn, generous, and sentimental." Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
May 28, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A stylish big-budget rousing range war Western that is a gimmicky mix of myth and hokum. Full Review

James Plath
April 30, 2005
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

Solid if unspectacular Wayne outing.

October 18, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Howard Thompson
May 9, 2005
Howard Thompson, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 8, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Carol Cling
September 26, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • Who plays Tom Chisum in Grease?  Answer »
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