CHISUM (1970) **1/2 The still of John Wayne that bookends the film deserves to be on dorm room walls everywhere. It says at least as much as the iconic shot of Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz or Jack Nicholson in The Shining, but suffers, I suspect, from Mr. Wayne's political associations. It's too bad, because I think that Andrew V. McLaglen was searching for, and found, some common ground in this film. Mr. Wayne is sympathetic to the plight of proud indians, friendly to Mexicans, and respectful towards women, unlike, obviously, some of his other roles. Of course, he got his land by shooting at indians, and no woman will put up with him, but sometimes I think the lines are more blurry when you look at 'em too close. Wayne opens the film as a successful and tolerant rancher. Big business, however, has come to town, and it's not too many scenes before the standard American unholy trinity of big business, organized crime, and corrupt law enforcement has driven him to the point that he has joined Billy the Kid in the armed resistance. McLaglen gives us all of that without giving up an inch of traditional Western turf. From the opening hokey number accompanied by sketches that wouldn't look out of place in any kitchen in Tulsa...there's never...it's always obvious that the film isn't going to suddenly become mainly about the rights of minorities, the corruptive nature of big business, the dignity and grace of women, or anything particularly negative about violence...the thing is that McLaglen plays all of those cards effectively and naturally within an almost historically accurate Western framework. Militants and cowboys can go forward from the fundamental tenets of rugged individualism, when they want to, and it's a more natural affinity and consequential foundation than either of them share with televangelists, corporate CEOs, or control-freak military leaders. I'm slightly disappointed that McLaglen didn't develop his themes with a sequel involving Billy the Kid and the Linda Day George character, but I guess that's pretty much what Warren Beatty did with Bonnie and Clyde.
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