Chisum is a 1970 American Warner Bros. western motion picture starring John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Andrew Prine, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, and Richard Jaeckel.
Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, the story was adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story, Chisum and the Lincoln County Cattle War.
Although this movie is historically inaccurate in many details, it is loosely based on events and characters from the Lincoln County War of 1878 in New Mexico Territory, which involved Billy the Kid among others.
Box office and reception
Released in June 1970, it was a relative success, grossing over $12 million at the box office.
American President Richard Nixon saw the film in the White house on July 31, 1970. He professed it to be one of his favorite movies, going so far as to use the context of it to explain his views on law and order.
Cast
- John Wayne – John Chisum
- Forrest Tucker – Lawrence Murphy
- Ben Johnson – James Pepper, Chisum’s sidekick
- Patric Knowles – Henry Tunstall (based on John Tunstall)
- Geoffrey Deuel – Billy The Kid
- Pamela McMyler – Sallie Chisum
- Glenn Corbett – Pat Garrett
- Andrew Prine – Alexander McSween
- Christopher George – Dan Nodeen
