Upon arriving at her uncle’s ranch, Sallie (Pamela McMyler) finds herself struck by its immense size. Her uncle, John Chisum (John Wayne), owner of the expansive property, notes that it would require a skilled rider considerable time – “most of the summer” – to traverse it completely. Along with his tired companion Pepper (Ben Johnson), they’ve weathered hardship and conflict, building a cattle empire that draws the …

Having grown up watching John Wayne—my dad was a devoted fan of westerns—I continue to enjoy these older films featuring him. It's hard to find a John Wayne film I dislike, even though they all feel pretty dated compared to today’s action-heavy movies with elaborate special effects. This one stands out as being among the better examples. Wayne is simply playing his familiar role: a somewhat surly, tough cowboy. Th…