Chisum
1970  G  WESTERN  1h 51min
CAST— John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Bruce Cabot, Glenn Corbett, Patric Knowles, Andrew Prine, Richard Jaeckel, Lynda Day, Geoffrey Deuel, Pamela McMyler
MUSIC— Dominic Frontiere  DIRECTOR— Andrew V. McLaglen  BASED ON— True events

     John Wayne is John Chisum, king of the Pecos. He resides on the biggest ranch in New Mexico. And Lawrence Murphy, the local land-grabber, covets it. He hires rustlers and banditos to try to force Chisum off his land. Big mistake. Chisum has just made the acquaintance of one William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid, a crack shot who’s loyal to Chisum’s new business partner, Henry Tunstall. While Murphy uses hook and crook to meet his goals Billy is busy defending the honorable (using less than honorable methods). Another account of the Lincoln County war, but its slow pace prevents it from being a classic interpretation. Redeemed somewhat by a slam bang finale, though to tell the truth, we’ve seen it all before.
OUR RATING— ** ½

     A Child Is Waiting
1963  NR  DRAMA  1h 42min
CAST— Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland, Gena Rowlands, Steven Hill, Bruce Ritchey
MUSIC— Ernest Gold  DIRECTOR— John Cassavetes

     A sensitive and touching drama, this film follows the work of a new teacher at a school for mentally impaired children. Totally unprepared for the new world which awaits her she begins to feel overwhelmed by her new position. Until, that is, she meets a young boy named Reuben who looks upon her as a surrogate mother; soon a friendship and a bond develops between the two. The director of the Institute, however, sees danger ahead and realizes that if she continues to cultivate this maternal bond with Reuben, a rift may soon develop between her and the other students. Yes, she had cracked open Reuben’s solitary shell but the director feels that she’s done it in an unethical way. He soon shows her what may happen to those put in the same situation as the poor boy. The film tends to drag at points, and it’s a bit sentimental, but it is a solid drama with a fine cast including terrific performances from children with disabilities.
OUR RATING— ** ½

     The Cheyenne Social Club
1970  PG  WESTERN  1h 43min
CAST— Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Shirley Jones, Sue Ane Langdon, Elaine Devry
MUSIC— Walter Scharf  DIRECTOR— Gene Kelly

     OK Western-comedy features James Stewart and Henry Fonda as two cowboys who trek from Texas to Wyoming. Upon arrival in the town of Cheyenne the two discover that the property Stewart has come to claim is a brothel. Stewart decides that the decent thing to do would be shutting down, putting a number of working girls out of business. This angers the entire town, some townsfolk viewing the cathouse as a home away from home. The tone is kept light, but the padding is awfully thick.
OUR RATING— ** ½

     Cheyenne Autumn
1964  NR  WESTERN  2h 34min
CAST— Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, Karl Malden, Delores Del Rio, Sal Mineo, Edward G. Robinson, James Stewart, Ricardo Montalban, Gilbert Roland, Arthur Kennedy, Patrick Wayne, Elizabeth Allen, Victor Jory, John Carradine, Mike Mazurki, John Qualen, George O’Brien
MUSIC— Alex North  DIRECTOR— John Ford

     Director John Ford’s last Western tale is a good one, maintaining the elements of heartfelt drama and rip-roaring action throughout. After the U.S. Armed Forces have taken the Native Americans from their homeland they’ve been confined in reservations— prison-like encampments lorded over by the U.S. Army. With no medicine for their sick, few rations for their bellies, a tribe of Cheyenne Indians feel that enough is enough and simply walk free of their encampment; their goal: their homeland, which had been theirs for generations, until the white man came, that is. The road will not be easy; after crossing the border of the reservation the Cheyenne become fugitives, under no protection from the U.S. government. Throughout their arduous trek through the wilderness they face death at the hands of various regiments of the U.S. Cavalry, murderous thugs, and debilitating starvation. This certainly is not the most chipper of Ford’s films but it certainly leaves an impact. The only flaw is James Stewart (believe it or not) as a gambling couldn’t-care-less Wyatt Earp in a semi-comical scene halfway through the picture. His character and demeanor seem to be from another film entirely. The only time one may wish that Jimmy would have just stayed out of Monument Valley.
OUR RATING— ***

     The Cheap Detective
1978  PG  COMEDY  1h 32min
CAST— Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, Fernando Lamas, Marsha Mason, Phil Silvers, Vic Tayback, Abe Vigoda, Paul Williams, Nicol Williamson, David Ogden Stiers
MUSIC— Patrick Williams  DIRECTOR— Robert Moore

     A hilarious script by Neil Simon and a good-natured performance by Peter Falk are the mainstays of this ever so silly spoof of Bogart films and the like. Falk plays a private detective whose partner has been murdered. But that only complicates matters. The real story here (if you can call it a story) is like this: Falk’s long lost love re-enters his life, husband in tow. They are now leaders in the French underground and they’ve come to America to open a French restaurant, or something, but the bill of sale has been stolen by the Germans. Falk must acquire the papers while simultaneously trying to locate a diamond necklace stolen from some other guy some years ago. Primarily a spoof of Casablanca (1942) and The Maltese Falcon (1941), this is a hit or miss comedy; not every joke catches fire though there are enough funny ones to keep one entertained.
OUR RATING— ** ½

     Chato’s Land
1972  PG  WESTERN  1h 50min
CAST— Charles Bronson, Jack Palance, Richard Basehart, Ralph Waite, Richard Jordan, Victor French
MUSIC— Jerry Fielding  DIRECTOR— Michael Winner

     Charles Bronson plays an Apache half-breed in this less than engaging Western. In self defense he kills the local lawman and heads for home. A posse is soon rounded up (headed by Jack Palance) and their hatred runs deep. They travel to Bronson’s home and use his wife as bait… after they rape her, that is. That tears it. Bronson goes on the war path, picking off members of the posse one by one. The tension mounts so that the men in the posse begin killing each other off, as well. If only it didn’t take so long. Most of the film is filled with needless exposition that you begin to question the intent of the filmmakers; did they want to deliver a soul-searching travelogue or a revenge picture? Sorry to say, it fails on both accounts. One positive note: check out Ralph Waite as a crazed rider; pretty unpleasant death, as well.
OUR RATING— **

     Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2005  PG  FANTASY  1h 55min
CAST— Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, James Fox, Deep Roy, Christopher Lee
MUSIC— Danny Elfman  DIRECTOR— Tim Burton  BASED ON— Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (novel), by Roald Dahl

     The term “eye candy” just took on a whole new meaning. Willy Wonka, the world’s most secretive chocolatier has distributed five golden tickets inviting children to visit his factory. Four of the children are a royal pain, but the fifth child, Charlie Bucket is shy and meek, a far cry from the others. When everyone arrives the doors open to a most fantastic sight: a world of music and merriment, adventure and danger, and of course, candy, candy, candy! Sweets as far as the eye can see. As this gaping group of tourists descend further and further into the bowels of the factory the audience is treated to another dose of madness from director Tim Burton. It’s a diabetic nightmare from start to finish, so turn on your sweet tooth and enjoy.
OUR RATING— ***
ORIGINAL— Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)