The Cheyenne Social Club 1970

     John and his friend Harley are working as cow pokes for very little pay.  They are holding down and branding cattle on a ranch in Texas.  John receives a letter that has been to all of the previous places he’s been staying and working.  He learns that his brother DJ passed away and left him The Cheyenne Social Club.  When John and Harley arrive in Cheyenne, they go to the attorney handling DJ's estate.  John receives over $1000 and it the most money he’s ever had.  John gets himself cleaned up and buys new clothes too.  They find out the Club is on the outskirts of town by the railroad tracks.  There are six women living in a double story home and it doesn’t take long for John and Harley to figure out what type of club this is.  It goes against John’s grain but he learns the house is on railroad land and can’t be sold. 

     After a short time, John and Harley realize they really don’t know anything about each other after 10 years?  They have just been working and traveling together.   Some issues arise with a man who has a deep mean streak and he has a lot of relatives.  Inheritances and money can change your life but sometimes not for the better.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

103 min, Comedy directed by Gene Kelly with James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley Jones, Sue Ane Langdon, Elaine Devry, Robert Middleton, Arch Johnson, Dabbs Greer, Jackie Russell, Jackie Joseph, Sharon DeBord.

Note:  Imdb 6.9 out of 10, 68% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 245 reviews, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed at Bonanza Creek Ranch, Eaves Movie Ranch, Santa Fe, New Mexico and West Hollywood, California.  There is a sign in the club listing the names of the women.  For years after this film’s release, the sign hung in writer James Lee Barrett’s home.  The director, Gene Kelly, is a dancer and choreographer.  In 1970, a lot of the great western directors had died or left the profession.  Only John Wayne and Clint Eastwood continued to work on westerns.