The Cheyenne Social Club (USA, 1970) 103 min color DIR: Gene Kelly. SCR: James Lee Barrett. PROD: James Lee Barrett, Gene Kelly. MUSIC: Walter Scharf. DOP: William H. Clothier. CAST: James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley Jones, Sue Ane Langdon, Elaine Devry, Jackie Russell, Jackie Joseph, Sharon DeBord, Robert Middleton, Robert J. Wilke, Dabbs Greer, Myron Healey. (National General Pictures)
Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda were best friends for almost fifty years, so one wonders why they worked together so infrequently. After co-starring in the 1948 comedy On Our Merry Way, they would appear together again in only two more films, both so late into their careers. Firecreek (1968) is an underrated, minor classic, which I will be reviewing soon in its own right. And while not as good, The Cheyenne Social Club is also entertaining. (Both films were released by Warners on a “flipper” DVD. If you’re a Western fan, it is well worth putting on the shelf.)
Texas cowboy John O’Hanlon (Stewart) learns he is an heir to his late brother’s estate, and so he and his pecan-cracking, motormouthed pal Harley Sullivan (Fonda) travel up to Wyoming… only to learn that the deceased has bequeathed a cathouse to him! At first, he is enjoying his new found fortune, being pampered by the lovelies, and is the toast of the town… until his morality wins over and decides to close the place. Naturally complications, and a much-needed gunfight ensue. While the script has problems (it needed to more explore the girls’ peculiar behaviour, especially after news of the closure), it is always a joy to watch… especially just to see those two old pros work together. Shirley Jones is actually fun as the madam, and look fast for cute Jackie Joseph (from Little Shop of Horrors) as one of the working girls. This film is also interesting as a directorial effort by former song-and-dance man Gene Kelly (having also sat at the director’s chair for Hello Dolly and Guide for the Married Man), and as such I kept on hoping for some choreography that would have added to the zany comedy. (However, Hank and Jimmy DO sing over the opening credits.)
This also features a moment with Jimmy Stewart, and a girl wearing nothing under a see-through gown. The actor later admitted he was embarrassed to play this scene, but in its own way, the moment contemporizes this otherwise “old Hollywood” entertainment.