John Wayne In "Chisum"

Above, John Wayne in Chisum (1970).

The Blu-ray of Chisum (1970) arrived in the mailbox today. So after having my eye exam and dinner in Gallup, I headed home and popped it into the machine and watched it.

The last time I saw the movie was during its first theatrical run. The only thing I remembered about it was the end battle between the bad guy Lawrence Murphy (Forrest Tucker) and John Chisum (John Wayne). The only reason that part was remembered was that my mom started laughing during that scene, saying it sure "looks funny seeing two old duffers fighting."

Above, the statue of John Chisum in Roswell, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The movie was based on actual people and events in New Mexico, but fictionalized. Along with John Chisum, Pat Garrett and William Bonney were also featured.

Last summer, Jessica and I came across a big statue of John Chisum in Roswell, New Mexico. I said to her at the statue, "He doesn't look a thing like John Wayne!"

There was one surprise in the movie. Patric Knowles, who played Dr. Frank Mannering in Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, played one of Chisum's friends and business partners. Other actors who were Wayne's "sometime-stock company" players also had roles, including John Agar, Hank Worden, Ben Johnson, Bruce Cabot, John Mitchum, Christopher Mitchum, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Edward Faulkner and Glenn Langan (The Amazing Colossal Man himself!).

Chisum was a good, entertaining shoot 'em up.