Song and dance legend Gene Kelly turned over a new leaf with this 1970 western co-starring James Stewart and Henry Fonda. "The Cheyenne Social Club" qualifies as one of the best western sex comedies. Subtlety is so unusual in a western of this variety, but "Singing in the Rain" director Gene Kelly and "Shenandoah" scenarist James Lee Barrett exemplify a light, nimble touch. Davis Grubb wrote the source novel. Stewart plays a career cowpoke that received a letter two years late and discovers that he has inherited a bordello much to his chagrin. Henry Fonda plays his long-winded best friend of ten years. This movie is a treat that drums up one surprise after another as Stewart struggles with his conscience about what to do with the whorehouse. Stewart gives a solemn, sincere performance as a repressed man embarrassed by his stroke of good fortune. Fonda delivers one of his most laid-back performances. He cracks pecans and catches everybody's attention. Stewart and Fonda make a hilarious pair who have been riding together for so long but don't know why they've been together. Barrett's dialogue is often quotable. Shirley Jones and Sue Ann Langdon round out the cast as a couple of the prostitutes at the Cheyenne Social Club. I don't think that the two stars would sack out in the same bed as Stewart and Fonda do, but then this oater isn't filthy minded. The politic dimension to the plot is also very funny.
The scene when John explains to the girls what happened to him is amusing. As he stumbles through his speech, a bell rings a different number of times summoning the girls from the meeting. After he learns that he has inherited a house of ill repute from his brother, John O'Hanlan (James Stewart of "Vertigo") decides to close the place to everybody's surprise.
Although it was the only western that Kelly helmed, he used John Wayne's favorite cinematographer William H. Clothier and "The Cheyenne Social Club" looks as western as all get out.
The scene when John explains to the girls what happened to him is amusing. As he stumbles through his speech, a bell rings a different number of times summoning the girls from the meeting. After he learns that he has inherited a house of ill repute from his brother, John O'Hanlan (James Stewart of "Vertigo") decides to close the place to everybody's surprise.
Although it was the only western that Kelly helmed, he used John Wayne's favorite cinematographer William H. Clothier and "The Cheyenne Social Club" looks as western as all get out.