Themes: Sheriffs and Outlaws, Prospectors and Land Rights
Main Cast: James Garner, Joan Hackett, Walter Brennan, Harry Morgan, Jack Elam
Release Year: 1969
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
James Garner is a nothing short of a delight in this western spoof that stands western clichés on their ears. The film takes place in the small western town of Calender, a town that experiences a gold rush when gold is discovered in an open grave by Prudy Perkins (Joan Hackett). As gold prospectors flood in and out of town, the Danby clan, anxious to take advantage of the situation (since their ranch blocks the main road out of town) levies a 20% tribute on every gold shipment that passes through. Three sheriffs have been dispatched by the Danbys, and they control the town. Into this situation, on his way to Australia, rides Jason McCullough (Garner). McCullough is an easy-going sort who just happens to be a crack shot. The town rapidly makes him sheriff. His first line of business is to break up a fight and to arrest Joe Danby (Bruce Dern) for murder. As McCullouch settles down in the Perkins boarding house, Pa Danby (Walter Brennan) plots to spring his son from jail. But when all his mechanizations fail to gain Joe's release, Pa Danby gathers together all the Danbys in the surrounding countryside to head into Calender to get rid of McCullough. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
Along with Cat Ballou and Blazing Saddles, Support Your Local Sheriff ranks way up high on many people's list of essential comic Westerns -- and with good reason. While it lacks the lunacy of the Mel Brooks classic and is perhaps a trifle less sure-handed than Cat Ballou, Sheriff is a delight on its own terms. A huge portion of the credit is due to James Garner's perfect performance. Jason McCullough is a part that fits the actor to a glove, allowing him to use his easygoing charm, laconic way with a quip and mixture of bemusement and disbelief at the situations in which he finds himself to superb effect. It's a good thing that Garner has such quite strength, for he needs it to keep an irrepressible Walter Brennan from stealing any scene he can sink his teeth into. There's also notable turns from a loveably clumsy Joan Hackett, a remarkably dense Bruce Dern and almost everyone in the cast. They're all helped by William Bowers' clever script, deft turns of phrase, ability to set up jokes in the most surefire manner and appealing characters, and by Burt Kennedy's beautifully smooth direction. Sheriff is simply a lot of fun and should be enjoyed even by those who are not Western fans. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Leroy Coleman - Art Director, Norman Burza - Costume Designer, Florence Hackett - Costume Designer, Burt Kennedy - Director, George Brooks - Editor, George W. Brooks - Editor, Jeff Alexander - Composer (Music Score), Stan Smith - Makeup, William Bowers - Producer, Hugh Hunt - Set Designer, Marcel Vercoutere - Special Effects, Bruce Wright - Sound/Sound Designer, William Bowers - Screenwriter
