"Chisum", released in 1970, was John Wayne's first film after he won the coveted Best Actor Oscar for "True Grit", a fact played up in the trailer for the film which opened with news footage of Wayne exiting the Academy Awards ceremony, showing off the Oscar to an adoring crowd. The film was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, who frequently collaborated with Wayne. This was arguably their best joint venture.
This review from the Independent Film Journal treats the movie like a standard John Wayne Western, but the uncredited writer fails to see the many factors that elevated it above most of Wayne's horse operas. In any event, the Duke had the last laugh when the ultimate film critic- the President of the United States- publicly praised the movie. Yup, Dick Nixon had screened it at the White House and told the press he very much enjoyed it. Not that Wayne needed presidential approval, as in 1970 he was still boxoffice gold- and indeed "Chisum" became one of his biggest hits. - Lee Pfeiffer