The Good Guys and the Bad Guys is directed by Burt Kennedy and written by Dennis Shryack. It stars Robert Mitchum, George Kennedy, Martin Balsam, David Carradine, Tina Louise, Lois Nettleton and Douglas Fowley. A Panavision/Technicolor production, music is by William Lava and cinematography by Harry Stradling Jr.The town of Progress and Marshal Jim Flagg (Mitchum) learns that old foe John McKay (Kennedy) is about and robbery is soon to follow. However, Jim has difficulty convincing Mayor Wilker (Balsam) that any thing is up, the Mayor apparently more concerned with bed hopping and feathering his own political nest. So when Wilker prematurely retires Jim, sticking one of his lap-dogs into the role of Marshal, Jim sets about doing his own investigation. Pretty soon both Jim and John, one time enemies on either side of the law, find that both of them are out of time with an ever changing West.Amiable. Burt Kennedy's film doesn't have the best of reputations, seemingly the blend of comedy and drama not teasing out much interest from the Western enthusiasts. It's true enough to say that the main theme, that of the changing West and two men finding themselves relics of the time, is ultimately playing second fiddle to the frivolity, while the finale tips over into over zealous slapstick farcery, yet Kennedy and Shryack imbue the picture with a genuine love of the genre. The director lets the pairing of Mitchum and Kennedy unfurl naturally, whilst also giving Balsam license to have a great time, thus all key performers are ever watchable. Scenic delights await within as Chama and Silverton provide location oomph, and the action quotient is in good supply.Disposable for sure, but fun while it's on. 6.5/10

This Movie is Great ! Beautiful Tina Louise is in it !!! Tina is a great actress as well as a beautiful woman. Tina was only two years out of Gilligan's Island when this movie was made.She is a wonderful person as well,with her work at the NYC schools.She now has a wonderful daughter Caprice Crain who is a mainstream writer.In this movie she is so beautiful and her performance is outstanding.Tina is perfect for this part.I bought this movie due to Tina's Great performance .And this is a good movie with Robert Mitchum,as I remember Robert from Thunder Road made in western NC.Robert was from my mom and dads generation and remember Robert from lots of movies from the 40s and 50s.

The film talks about a semi-retired sheriff (Robert Mitchum) who finds his nemesis , an old outlaw (George Kennedy) . He is abandoned by his band (leaders are David Carradine and John Davis Chandler) of cutthroats for being too old to execute a bank-heist that the gang is planning . Demystified Western was one of a group of much-imitated which changed the concept of their particular genre each bent on disproving a popular myth , yet tinged with humor , spoof and combining anti-heroes , replacing cars and horses ; in addition , the inevitable decadence of protagonists . The formula deals to enhance the comic observations of the western originated on the decade of the 60s by the following filmmakers : Andrew McLagen and Burt Kennedy , fine director of this movie .Burt Kennedy directed similar Western with comedy such as :¨Support your local gunfighter¨ (one of the best spoof Western) , ¨Support your local sheriff¨ (his highpoint) , ¨Dirty Dingus Mcgee¨ and ¨War Wagon¨ . The picture is wonderfully amused and enjoyable with Robert Mitchum as a tough but dreary sheriff with his Maverick image who uses brains as well as brawny and guns . He cleaned a lawless town in his own highly individual way but he is fired by the Mayor , rightly played by Martin Balsam . Mitchum in one of the best interpretations was much stronger actor when being something older than a straightforward hero . George Kennedy makes a robustly likable characterization . Stars have a splendid fight aboard a train towards the end ; furthermore , it contains excellent action sequences , as well as the pursuits and derailing train . Ronald Cohen's screenplay besides having more than its fair scraps of funny lines , throws up rich characters . Thus , Douglas Fowley as the old brawler likeness Walter Brennan (Support you local..) clearly relishing his comic relief . John Davis Chandler , as always, plays a sadist gunfighter. There appears uncredited Christopher Mitchum , Robert's son , along with Buddy Hackett . Film exteriors were shot in New Mexico by cameraman Harry Stradling who reflects stunningly the marvelous landscapes . Jolly and agreeable musical score by William Lava and songs by Ned Washington. The motion picture was well directed by Burt Kennedy .

Burt Kennedy during the late 1960s seemed to take over the western genre with a cluster of good comedic films using some of Hollywood's best. but aging male stars. The Good Guys and the Bad Guys is a prime example of his work which never disappoints.Robert Mitchum as an aging and then ex-Marshal and George Kennedy,an outlaw adversary of Mitchum's from the old days join forces to outwit and capture a gang of young punks that the aging Kennedy has been riding with. Since they're on the screen for most of the story together, the chemistry has to be perfect with them for the picture to work and it is.Some Hollywood veterans also round out the cast. Marie Windsor for once is a good girl as a saloon owner with a heart of gold. Douglas Fowley plays a grizzled old timer in the best Gabby Hayes tradition. They stand out as does David Carradine as the leader of the young outlaws.However in the scenes he's in, Martin Balsam as the town mayor steals the film. He had to be the model that Mel Brooks used for Harvey Korman's portrayal of Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles.And in the best 50s western tradition we have Glenn Yarborough singing intermittently The Ballad of Marshal Flagg in the great tradition of Frankie Laine. Personally though Yarborough does a good job, I think they should have utilized Robert Mitchum for that also.The then Governor of New Mexico, David Cargo, makes a bit appearance at the end of the film as a reporter. Cargo, tried very hard to get the Hollywood Studios to use New Mexico for filming. I suppose this bit was one of the perks of office.It's rollicking good entertainment, Burt Kennedy at his best.