ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
Kaydan Christian
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
bookandcandle
Why was Support Your Local Gunfighter filmed most of the time at night? I could not even get into the movie with all the darkness, in addition to the craziness of Suzanne Pleshette shooting and screaming. Was the producer trying to save money on having no daylight background? I was looking forward to the western sets and scenery. Instead, all I got was dark, darker and darkest background at night. This was one of the worst westerns I have ever seen...not funny and not enjoyable.
sol-
Not really a sequel to 'Support Your Local Sheriff!', but rather a completely different western comedy from the same director with a substantial number of cast members in common, the similar title and on-screen cast nevertheless renders comparisons unavoidable while watching 'Gunfighter'. The basic plot here is actually more innovative and clever if anything, clearly inspired by 'Yojimbo' as a conman drifter plays two warring factions in an Old West town against one another by claiming that his clueless recent acquaintance, played by Jack Elam, is a legendary gunfighter. Elam is excellent as the hapless lonely soul in question, equally as confused by the situation as he is delighted by the attention it affords him, and his performance is probably the strongest of either 'Support' film. Garner is far less appealing this time round though. He shows just as much ingenuity as his 'Sheriff' character at times, but he equally as often seems an utter fool with a perplexing gambling habit that makes for a very lousy running gag. The film has some pacing issues too with lots of lags between the truly funny moments. Everything culminates in a memorable conclusion though with an uncredited Chuck Connors great as the formidable legendary gunfighter, come to town to protect his good name. Garner also nicely gets a chance to prove himself just as much this time round; here he is a confidence trickster, trading on another man's name, who gradually proves himself worthy of the other man's status and so much more.
SnoopyStyle
Latigo Smith (James Garner) is a ladies man, a gambler and a con man. He escapes from brothel madam Goldie who intends to marry him and sneaks off the train at the mining town of Purgatory. He befriends Jug May (Jack Elam) and asks the doc to remove his Goldie tattoo. Taylor Barton (Harry Morgan) and his family mistakenly assume him to be gunslinger Swifty Morgan hired by rival mine owner Col. Ames. Taylor's impetuous daughter Patience "The Sidewinder" (Suzanne Pleshette) is quick to shoot and eager to go to a college back east. Smith comes up with a scheme to pass Jug off as Swifty but it all comes to bite him.This is a follow up to 'Support Your Local Sheriff!' but is not actually a sequel. Many of the same actors return in different roles in a different story. It's funny. James Garner is a great fun cad and I love Jack Elam. This one improves by getting Suzanne Pleshette who is a much funnier actress than Joan Hackett. This is simply a fun franchise that is anchored by the great Garner.
dougdoepke
Occasional knee-slapping follow up to "… Local Sheriff" (1969). It's over-the-top, except for Garner, who plays his clever Maverick character right down to the gentlemanly attire. But it's a goofy Elam who steals the film as a gunfighter whose spastic moves and relentless mugging appear to be on a different wave-length from planet Earth. Meanwhile, Pleshette manages her berserk gunfire in comical fashion, that is, when not beating up on the nearest guy. Plot-wise, it seems two mining outfits are trying to sabotage each other using fair means but mainly foul. Each wants to employ, yes, the fastest gun in the West, who turns out to be, not Elam, but a bald Chuck Connors who's apparently left his rifle and hair back in the '50's.At times, the movie tries a little too hard to keep up the comedic pace and various gimmicks. Plus Garner's little roulette fixation comes across as rather clunky given the generally light-hearted pace. But get a load of the great supporting cast. So many familiar names and faces from that era and earlier (Blondell). I'm glad a lot of these deserving folks got a payday and some screen time. (Look fast for WC Field's favorite Grady Sutton in a small role.) Anyway, it's a fun 90-minutes with that master of the sly grin, Jim Garner, and a cast of fun-loving roustabouts.
