Review of The Good Guys and the Bad Guys

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys", released in 1969 gave two wily screen veterans, Robert Mitchum and George Kennedy, a chance to have some fun in a western that pokes a lot of fun at itself and the times that it was portraying. It's the turn of the century and the local town marshal, James Flagg, played by Mitchum, is still taking himself seriously as the town marshal, even though the town sees him as a reminder of the unpleasant past, and not much of a positive image for the town's future. Flagg does sense that an upcoming robbery could occur, as he hears that a long-time adversary, Big John McKay, played by Kennedy, is in the area and heading up a gang of young outlaws. Mitchum wants to get a posse together, but the town gets him a retirement party, instead, and accepts a sit-back and wait attitude. Mitchum goes after the gang on his own, manages to capture McKay (Kennedy), but finds that the young band was going to oust McKay anyway, characterizing him as too old and too slow to be of any use. Kennedy decides to help the marshal capture the gang, thus he becomes one of the good guys, and the two take out after the bad guys.

Director Burt Kennedy always seemed to produce at least one scene that would be pure slapstick. This was no exception, as one will see from viewing the wild chase scene at the end of the film. Glenn Yarbarough, former lead singer of the folk group, The Limelighters, has a nice rendition of a tune that sets the stage for Marshal Flagg. To the viewer, enjoy, and don't expect this film to get serious, it was made simply for relaxation and fun.