The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)

69% of users liked it
(2,410 ratings)

James Stewart and Henry Fonda star in this light-hearted western comedy, directed by Gene Kelly. In 1870 Texas, John O' Hanlan (James Stewart), an itinerant cowboy, receives a letter notifying him that he has inherited a business establishment called the Cheyenne Social Club in Cheyenne, Wyoming.… More James Stewart and Henry Fonda star in this light-hearted western comedy, directed by Gene Kelly. In 1870 Texas, John O' Hanlan (James Stewart), an itinerant cowboy, receives a letter notifying him that he has inherited a business establishment called the Cheyenne Social Club in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Thinking that he can finally settle down from his hard life on the trail and become a man of property, he travels with his friend Harley O'Sullivan (Henry Fonda) to Cheyenne to claim his property. Once there, he finds the Cheyenne Social Club to be a brothel, run by the attractive Madame Jenny (Shirley Jones). John is appalled, and while Harley is sampling the business's wares, John is planning to close the place down and turn it into a boardinghouse. But when the citizens of Cheyenne get wind of John's plan, they try to convince him to keep the whorehouse the way it is. However, all of this talk is tabled when John finds out that Jenny has been beaten by the disreputable Corey Bannister (Robert J. Wilke). John challenges him to a gunfight and kills him. Suddenly, John and Harley discover that they have the whole Bannister clan after them, and now they have to defend both themselves and the gals at the Cheyenne Social Club. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Gene Kelly
Written By: James Lee Barrett
Genres: Western, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1970 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2006
Studio: National General Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
As directed by Gene Kelly, this mildly amusing comedy Western benefits from the stature of Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...undoubtedly winsome and cute. Maybe a little too cute.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The film is easy to criticize but hard to fault, if you know what I mean.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This is the first time the comedy Western, pairing Stewart and Fonda, is aavilable on a DVD edition, which includes the vintage featurette, The Good Time Girls."

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Stewart and Fonda once again add substance to an otherwise journeyman western cum sex comedy.
Deb S

Jimmy Stewart plays John O'Hanlan, an aging Texan cowpoke who unexpectedly inherits the rowdiest whorehouse in Cheyenne. So Stewart quits his job in Texas and rides to Cheyenne to claim his inheritance and saddle pal Henry Fonda goes along for the ride. But John incurs the wrath… More
Jimmy Stewart plays John O'Hanlan, an aging Texan cowpoke who unexpectedly inherits the rowdiest whorehouse in Cheyenne. So Stewart quits his job in Texas and rides to Cheyenne to claim his inheritance and saddle pal Henry Fonda goes along for the ride. But John incurs the wrath of the whole town when he decides to close it down and turn it into a boarding house. That is, until the lawyer tells him that it must remain The Cheyenne Social Club due to an agreement his deceased brother had with the railroad, whose right of way the house sits on. Trouble ensues when John kills a cowboy who beat up "one of his girls." The man's relatives, predictably, come to town to avenge the death of their beloved kin. The movie is at its best when these two old pros are interacting with one another. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=25jies4" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/25jies4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=15pib0k" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/15pib0k.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2n0rmv5" target="_blank"><img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/2n0rmv5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Anthony V

A great cast gives this a lift.
Timothy O

I have watched this classic film so many times, I've lost count. If you don't watch it, you've missed something really wonderful. Yes, it is campy and pastel at times, but it is a great bit of fun.

Cast

            James Stewart as John O'Hanlan

            Henry Fonda as Harley Sullivan

            Shirley Jones as Jenny

            Sue Ane Langdon as Opal Ann

            Elaine  Devry as Pauline

            Jackie Russell as Carrie Virginia

            Jackie Joseph as Annie Jo

            Sharon de Bord as Sara Jean

            Dabbs Greer as Willowby

            Richard Collier as Nathan Potter

            Charles Tyner as Bannister

            Jean Willes as Alice

            Robert J. Wilke as Corey Bannister

            Carl Reindel as Peter Dodge

            J. Pat O'Malley as Dr. Foy

            Jason Wingreen as Dr. Farley Carter

            John Dehner as Clay Carroll

            Hal Baylor as Barkeep at Lady of Egypt

            Myron Healey as Deuter

            Dick Johnstone as Yancey

            Hi Roberts as Scared Man

            Ed Pennybacker as Teamster

            Dean Smith as The Bannister Gang

            Bill Hicks as The Bannister Gang

            Bill Davis as The Bannister Gang

            Walt Davis as The Bannister Gang

            William T. Hicks
            
            Arch Johnson as Marshall Anderson

            Warren Kemmerling as Kohler

            Robert Middleton as Barkeep at Great Plains Saloon

            Boyd 'Red' Morgan as Hansen

            Alberto Morin as Ranch Foreman

            Charlotte Stewart as Mae

            Philip L. Mead as Cook

            Sharon DeBord
            
See full cast