''The Good Guys and the Bad Guys'' is a 1969 American

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film directed by

Burt Kennedy Burton Raphael Kennedy (September 3, 1922 – February 15, 2001) was an American screenwriter and director known mainly for directing Westerns. Budd Boetticher called him "the best Western writer ever." Biography Kennedy was born in 1922 i ...

. It stars

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He rose to prominence with an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actor for ''The Story of G.I. Joe'' (1945), followed by his starring in ...

and George Kennedy.

Plot

Jim Flagg is the marshal in the town of Progress. He hears arch-rival Big John McKay is headed toward town so he warns Mayor Wilker, a typical cheap politician, and others in Progress about rumor of an impending train robbery. Wilker doesn't appreciate Flagg causing a panic and relieves him of his job and badge by retiring him. Flagg sets out on his own and discovers McKay has joined up with a band of youthful outlaws. After being taken prisoner, Flagg escapes death thanks to McKay's intervention after the youthful Waco takes over the gang, but the two old enemies end up in a fistfight. Taken back to town, Flagg puts McKay in a boarding house run by Mary, a widow. The mayor and town folks don't take the threat seriously. When the outlaws arrive, intent on robbing a train, McKay sides with Flagg in defeating their plans. Flagg's old friend Grundy plays the fool and gets himself killed by one of the gang members. The outlaws intend to rob the train before it arrives at the town bank when it stops at the station. Flagg and McKay board the train before it reaches town. Although they are initially detained by on-board security inside a privy, they are able to break free. They climb into the locomotive cab and take the crew hostage. The train does not stop at the station and passes into town. Mayor Wilker and a band of townspeople chase after the train. The outlaws, upon realizing the train has not stopped, also chase after it. McKay uncouples the front cars of the train from the rear passenger coaches, overtaking the outlaws. The train approaches a section of broken track over a cliff and is too fast to stop in time. Flagg, McKay and the workers bail out before it plunges off the cliff and explodes. The outlaws catch up and rob the burning train compartments. Flagg and McKay ambush them and kill most of them in the ensuing gunfight. McKay meets Waco as he is about to escape. Waco manages to wound McKay, who then shoots him dead. McKay remarks to Flagg that he "thought he could beat him aco to which Flagg replies "You did beat him." Mayor Wilker arrives and expresses his gratitude to the two for saving the town and hence his reputation as a mayor. When interviewed by a press journalist, Wilker is asked whether he would consider running for state governor. He is delighted to consider the prospect. Flagg thinks Wilker really could "become president one day." The town marshal asks Flagg to take back his badge for his heroic deed, but he turns down the opportunity. He gives one piece of advice to the marshal, that, in order to be successful, "You have to tell the good guys from the bad guys." The film ends on a humorous note as Flagg arrests McKay and handcuffs him, despite McKay's protests. Referring to an earlier incident in the film, Flagg jokes that he will always keep his word, as he once promised to land McKay in jail.

Cast

as Flagg * George Kennedy as McKay *

Martin Balsam Martin Henry Balsam (November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996) was an American actor. He had a prolific career in character roles in film, in theatre, and on television. An early member of the Actors Studio, he began his career on the New Yo ...

as Mayor Wilker *

David Carradine David Carradine ( ; born John Arthur Carradine Jr.; December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009) was an American actor best known for playing martial arts roles. He is perhaps best known as the star of the 1970s television series '' Kung Fu'', playi ...

as Waco *

Tina Louise Tina Louise ( Blacker; born February 11, 1934) is an American actress widely known for her role as movie star Ginger Grant in the CBS television situation comedy ''Gilligan's Island''. With the death of Dawn Wells in 2020, Louise became the las ...

as Carmel *

Lois Nettleton Lois June Nettleton (August 16, 1927 – January 18, 2008) was an American film, stage, radio, and television actress. She received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Early life Lois Nettleton was born on Aug ...

as Mary *

John Carradine John Carradine ( ; born Richmond Reed Carradine; February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was an American actor, considered one of the greatest character actors in American cinema. He was a member of Cecil B. DeMille's stock company and later ...

as Ticker *

Marie Windsor Marie Windsor (born Emily Marie Bertelsen; December 11, 1919 – December 10, 2000) was an American actress known for her femme fatale characters in the classic film noir features ''Force of Evil'', ''The Narrow Margin'' and '' The Killing''. Wi ...

as Polly *

Buddy Hackett Buddy Hackett (born Leonard Hacker; August 31, 1924 – June 30, 2003) was an American actor, comedian and singer. His best remembered roles include Marcellus Washburn in ''The Music Man'' (1962), Benjy Benjamin in ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Wo ...

as Ed (uncredited) * Douglas Fowley as Grundy *

John Davis Chandler John Davis Chandler (January 28, 1935 – February 16, 2010) was an American actor. Life Chandler was born in Hinton, West Virginia. He died at age 75 in Toluca Lake, California from cancer. Career In two films in 1961, he portrayed the gangs ...

as Deuce *

Dick Peabody Richard Peabody (April 6, 1925 – December 27, 1999) was an American actor best known for his role as six-foot-six Pfc. Littlejohn on the 1960s series ''Combat!''. Peabody worked in television, movies, radio, and print. He was tall and typecast ...

as Boyle *

Kathleen Freeman Kathleen Freeman (February 17, 1923August 23, 2001) was an American actress. In a career that spanned more than 50 years, she portrayed acerbic maids, secretaries, teachers, busybodies, nurses, and battle-axe neighbors and relatives, almost in ...

as Mrs. Stone (Mother) * Jimmy Murphy as Buckshot * Garrett Lewis as Hawkins *

Nick Dennis Nick Dennis (April 26, 1904 – November 14, 1980) was a Greek American film actor born in Thessaly, Greece. Biography The supporting actor, who began in films in 1947, was known for playing ethnic types (usually Greek) in films such as ''Kiss ...

as Engineer #2 *

Dorothy Adams Dorothy Adams (January 8, 1900 – March 16, 1988) was an American character actress of stage, film, and television. Early years Adams was born in Hannah, North Dakota. She later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and was educated there. ...

as Mrs. Pierce (uncredited) * Robert Anderson as Jed (uncredited) * Jimmy Booth as Wagon Driver (uncredited) * Nick Borgani as Townsman (uncredited) * Danny Borzage as Accordionist (uncredited) * Paul Bradley as Barfly (uncredited) * Thordis Brandt as Babe (uncredited) *

David Cargo David Francis Cargo (January 13, 1929 – July 5, 2013) was an American attorney and politician who served as the List of governors of New Mexico, 22nd governor of New Mexico between 1967 and 1971. Early life and education Cargo was born in ...

as David Cargo - reporter (uncredited) * David S. Cass Sr. as Tuber (uncredited) * Noble "Kid" Chissell as Townsman (uncredited) * George Dunn as Engineer #1 (uncredited) *

John Fritz John F. Fritz (August 21, 1822 – February 13, 1913) was an American pioneer of iron and steel technologySandra E. Duffy (2012Fritz Lab: Not Just for Chicks from Pennsylvania State University who has been referred to as the "Father of the U.S. S ...

as Townsman (uncredited) * Bobby Gilbert as Boarding house guest (uncredited) *

Angela Greene Angela Katherine Greene (born Angela Catherine Williams; 24 February 1921 – 9 February 1978) was an Irish-American actress. Biography Born in Dublin as Angela Catherine Williams, she was the only daughter of Margaret ( Greene) and Joseph W ...

as Judy (uncredited) *

Darby Hinton Edgar Raymond Darby Hinton (born August 19, 1957) is an American actor. His parents were actor Ed Hinton (1919–1958) and Marilyn Mau Hinton (1922–1982). Both of his sisters, Darcy and Daryn Hinton, were actresses from childhood.Everett Aake ...

as Pug (uncredited) *

Jackie Joseph Jackie Joseph (born November 7, 1933) is an American actress and writer. She is best known for her role as Jackie Parker on ''The Doris Day Show'' (1971–1973) and Audrey in '' The Little Shop of Horrors'' (1960), as well as a supporting role i ...

as Doris (uncredited) * Irene Kelly as Ginny (uncredited) * Kenner G. Kemp as Saloon Dealer (uncredited) * Alan Lee as Townsman (uncredited) * Stuart Lee as Townsman (uncredited) *

Paul Lees Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...

as Miles (uncredited)

Production

The movie was filmed on location in

Chama, New Mexico Chama is a village in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,022 at the 2010 census. The village is located in the Rocky Mountains about south of the Colorado-New Mexico border. Geography Chama is located at (36.8947 ...

, and other locations in

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

Thousand Oaks, California Thousand Oaks is the second-largest city in Ventura County, California, United States. It is in the northwestern part of Greater Los Angeles, approximately from the city of Los Angeles and from Downtown. It is named after the many oak tr ...

Silverton, Colorado Silverton is a statutory town that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. The town is located in a remote part of the western San Juan Mountains, a ra ...

, and the

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

Burbank Studios, California.

Reception

Many critics failed to comprehend the comedic nature of the film. Howard Thompson of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' said, "Whatever possessed these three actors itchum, Kennedy and Balsamto amble through such a dinky prairie oyster stumps us. And so does the uncertain tone of the picture, methodically directed by Burt Kennedy, which only toward the end asserts itself, clearly and lamely, as a good-natured spoof." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote that the film "provides what in today's market is acceptable family fare, laughs overshadowing the serious moments." Roger Ebert gave the film 2.5 stars out of 4, calling it "a fairly good Western but not good enough." Gene Siskel of the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...

'' also gave it 2.5 stars out of 4, calling it "a pleasant enough oater that is low on violence and drama. It won't offend a soul, and is merely made for that catch-all evaluation, 'decent entertainment.'"

Charles Champlin Charles Davenport Champlin (March 23, 1926 – November 16, 2014) was an American film critic and writer. Life and career Champlin was born in Hammondsport, New York. He attended high school in Camden, New York, working as a columnist for the ...

of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the U ...

'' called the film "slow, gross, heavy-handed, neither funny nor sweetly sad." Gary Arnold of ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'' wrote, "Burt Kennedy's direction of this hokum is lively and likeable, but I'd prefer an older sort of hokum: Western melodrama with comic interludes or undercurrents, like '

Ride the High Country ''Ride the High Country'' (released internationally as ''Guns in the Afternoon'') is a 1962 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Mariette Hartley. The supporting cast includ ...

' and '

True Grit True Grit may refer to: Fiction * ''True Grit'' (novel), a 1968 novel by Charles Portis ** ''True Grit'' (1969 film), a film adaptation by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne ** ''True Grit'' (2010 film), a film adaptation by the Coen Brothers, ...

' at its infrequent best and

William Wyler William Wyler (; born Willi Wyler (); July 1, 1902 – July 27, 1981) was a Swiss-German-American film director and producer who won the Academy Award for Best Director three times, those being for '' Mrs. Miniver'' (1942), ''The Best Years of ...

's ' The Westerner,' rather than deliberate, gratuitous spoofing."

References

External links