The Good Guys and the Bad Guys

This is a good old fashion western starring two codgy cowboys. One is an aging Marshal named Flagg played by Roger Mitchum and his old nemesis bank robber buddy McKay played by George Kennedy. This western portrays both men as past their prime players in their respective fields of Marshal and Bank Robber, who are harshly being put out to pasture.

But movie goers "hold tightly on to your horses reigns" as these two feisty old geezers are not ready to hang up their guns just yet since their replacement much younger Marshal and Gunslingers just don't have the right stuff to take over these old geezers place in the sun just yet.

Similar to the musical score theme of the earlier 1965 western film Cat Ballou, this films movie theme is heard throughout the film at just the right times to remind the movie goers that something good or something bad is about to happen.

A train is going to be robbed and its up to these two old gunslingers to agree to join forces and stop this younger band of desperados led by Waco played with pizazz by David Carradine.

Of course there has to be a love interest for Marshal Flagg and that happens to be stay at home mom Mary played by the lovely Lois Nettleton. Most of the comedy light is provided by the towns Mayor Wilker played by Martin Balsalm.

I found this western quite entertaining with a good cast and an even better story with a great soundtrack and enjoyable cinematography. So get yourself a big bowl of popcorn and your favorite drinks and sit back and enjoy this light hearted western

I give the film an entertaining 8 out of 10 IMDb rating.

For those who like western's, this one has it all. For those who don't, the same applies.

The ageing Marshal teams up with the ageing bandit to oust the bad young guys, hopelessly out-numbered of course. Naturally with age comes experience and the bad guys are defeated as the (ex) Marshal (played brilliantly by Mitchum) walks into a hail of pistol fire flanked by his new(ish) best friend (Big John Makay- aka George Kennedy)and dispenses justice with both barrels.

The likable old drunk is shot in the back by one of the bad guys, the whores aren't shown as harlots, the mayor gets it anywhere he can and the new Marshal is stupid. Hardly surprising.

Oh, and of course, there's a love interest for the Marshal- and a cute little blonde boy who looks to Mitchum as a substitute father. There's an almost hilarious train sequence and a train chase with a difference. For those women who find westerns aren't really their thing but are made to watch them by boyfriends, this one has a big plus: Robert Mitchum, for all that he is playing a character who is supposed to be past it looks pretty fine. Likable enough, but don't take it too seriously- its not meant to be.

The film talks about a semi-retired sheriff (Robert Mitchum) who finds his nemesis , an old outlaw (George Kennedy) . He is abandoned by his band (leaders are David Carradine and John Davis Chandler) of cutthroats for being too old to execute a bank-heist that the gang is planning . Demystified Western was one of a group of much-imitated which changed the concept of their particular genre each bent on disproving a popular myth , yet tinged with humor , spoof and combining anti-heroes , replacing cars and horses ; in addition , the inevitable decadence of protagonists . The formula deals to enhance the comic observations of the western originated on the decade of the 60s by the following filmmakers : Andrew McLagen and Burt Kennedy , fine director of this movie .

Burt Kennedy directed similar Western with comedy such as :¨Support your local gunfighter¨ (one of the best spoof Western) , ¨Support your local sheriff¨ (his highpoint) , ¨Dirty Dingus Mcgee¨ and ¨War Wagon¨ . The picture is wonderfully amused and enjoyable with Robert Mitchum as a tough but dreary sheriff with his Maverick image who uses brains as well as brawny and guns . He cleaned a lawless town in his own highly individual way but he is fired by the Mayor , rightly played by Martin Balsam . Mitchum in one of the best interpretations was much stronger actor when being something older than a straightforward hero . George Kennedy makes a robustly likable characterization . Stars have a splendid fight aboard a train towards the end ; furthermore , it contains excellent action sequences , as well as the pursuits and derailing train . Ronald Cohen's screenplay besides having more than its fair scraps of funny lines , throws up rich characters . Thus , Douglas Fowley as the old brawler likeness Walter Brennan (Support you local..) clearly relishing his comic relief . John Davis Chandler , as always, plays a sadist gunfighter. There appears uncredited Christopher Mitchum , Robert's son , along with Buddy Hackett . Film exteriors were shot in New Mexico by cameraman Harry Stradling who reflects stunningly the marvelous landscapes . Jolly and agreeable musical score by William Lava and songs by Ned Washington. The motion picture was well directed by Burt Kennedy .

Burt Kennedy during the late 1960s seemed to take over the western genre with a cluster of good comedic films using some of Hollywood's best. but aging male stars. The Good Guys and the Bad Guys is a prime example of his work which never disappoints.

Robert Mitchum as an aging and then ex-Marshal and George Kennedy,an outlaw adversary of Mitchum's from the old days join forces to outwit and capture a gang of young punks that the aging Kennedy has been riding with. Since they're on the screen for most of the story together, the chemistry has to be perfect with them for the picture to work and it is.

Some Hollywood veterans also round out the cast. Marie Windsor for once is a good girl as a saloon owner with a heart of gold. Douglas Fowley plays a grizzled old timer in the best Gabby Hayes tradition. They stand out as does David Carradine as the leader of the young outlaws.

However in the scenes he's in, Martin Balsam as the town mayor steals the film. He had to be the model that Mel Brooks used for Harvey Korman's portrayal of Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles.

And in the best 50s western tradition we have Glenn Yarborough singing intermittently The Ballad of Marshal Flagg in the great tradition of Frankie Laine. Personally though Yarborough does a good job, I think they should have utilized Robert Mitchum for that also.

The then Governor of New Mexico, David Cargo, makes a bit appearance at the end of the film as a reporter. Cargo, tried very hard to get the Hollywood Studios to use New Mexico for filming. I suppose this bit was one of the perks of office.

It's rollicking good entertainment, Burt Kennedy at his best.

I am often critical about the movies spun out of Hollywood, overblown, ridiculous, far fetched, untrue etc, but one type of film they usually get right are Westerns, after all the Wild West was on the backdoor of Hollywood and deeply woven into American history, so they know exactly how to present one. This is a comedy, not much comedy in the west but the realistic scenes and sets are there, all down to a fine detail.

This is one they got right, a Comedy Western with great actor Robert Mitchum and great supporting actor George Kennedy, the acting is good, a bit tongue in cheek, but its a comedy, it has to be that, the scenery is great filmed in New Mexico and Colorado, the theme song (by Glen Yarborough) sung throughout is spot on and fits the film well. Directed well and good pacing, it could have been longer which I believe would have made it better, but no real complaints

David Carradine is good as the bad man, as is Martin Balsam as the Mayor, the town set is excellent and the train is spot on a real steam locomotive, not one of those fake Disney ones 3/4 the size, the costumes and sets are very realistic, the story is ok, not likely, but this is comedy, not a documentary on the west.

The modern westerns are usually poor compared to the better older ones, like this one, pity, but we can still watch films like this to reminisce.