"I don't know what I could have said to give you that idea, Mayor"
The town of Calendar, Colorado is a lawless free-for-all. The town has a thriving gold mine and has attracted the worst of the worst. The town is also plagued by the outlaw Danby family, who waylay the gold from the mines and do as they please in the town. No one wants to stand against the Danby's and the last 3 sheriffs have been killed or ran away. All that changes when Jason McCullough (Garner) arrives in town. McCullough wants to try his hand at gold mining before traveling to Australia for an adventure. He takes the job as sheriff for the pay and the job and board offered with the position.
His first job is to stop a muddy street brawl and arrest Joe Danby (Dern) who murdered a man in the saloon. With help from the "town character" Jake (Elam), he takes Joe to the jailhouse. The town is especially proud of their jailhouse; it has everything the sheriff needs, except for bars on the cells. He makes Jake his reluctant deputy and moves into the home of Mayor Olly Perkins (Morgan) and his hot-headed daughter Prudy (Hackett), the wealthiest woman in town. News of Joe's arrest reaches his family, and his Pa (Brennan) makes a plan to scare off the new sheriff. Can Jason clean up the town, outsmart the Danby family, and stay alive long enough to make his fortune?
This film, written by William Bowers (who also produced the film), is a parody of classic western films. The story mimics the setup of many western films, while also laughing at the absurd situations.
James Garner stars as Jason, the reluctant hero who has to outsmart everyone else. Most of the other cast members appeared in numerous western films. Walter Brennan is the exasperated villain, surrounded by idiot sons: Bruce Dern, Gene Evans, and Dick Peabody. Dern is entertaining as Joe, and the other brothers are mostly comic relief. Joan Hackett is the feisty love interest, who is more than willing to dive into a fight. Jack Elam is the quirky sidekick.
It is an enjoyable film. It pays homage to westerns, while still appealing to fans of the genre, and brings lots of laughs.
The film was a success and Burt Kennedy repeated the formula two years later with Support Your Local Gunfighter in 1971. The majority of the cast returned, in new roles, with Garner again playing the reluctant hero. The gunfighter film is much funnier and a better all-around film than it's predecessor.
Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) 92 minutes
Director: Burt Kennedy
Starring: James Garner as Jason McCullough
Joan Hackett as Prudy Perkins
Walter Brennan as Pa Danby
Harry Morgan as Olly Perkins
Jack Elam as Jake
Henry Jones as Henry Jackson
Bruce Dern as Joe Danby
Willis Bouchey as Thomas Dever
Walter Burke as Fred Johnson
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