Movie Review Support Your Local Sheriff
Suave
When we here at fartinthewind assign a rating to a movie it is an all encompassing, overall score that includes underappreciation for a film. When is the last time you heard some one say Support Your Local Sheriff is their favorite film? Or that they've even heard of it? When is the last time you heard it mentioned or shown on television? It is a weird feeling when you love something so much and no one else really knows about it. It is a high honor for this to be only the second film we've reviewed after Citizen Kane.
Gold Rush
Support Your Local Sheriff is first and foremost a comedy, then a western. James Garner rolls through a town in chaos after gold was found in a grave during a funeral. The Danby family is a big land owner that harasses and steals from people traversing a road that runs through their property. The town needs cleaning up but no one is brave enough to be sheriff, until Garner arrives. His character is the definition of Suave with a capital S.
A town in chaos
After an exhibition of marksmanship lands him the job of sheriff his first order of business is to bring Joe Danby to jail for a murder Garner witnessed when he first came to town. This jail has no bars because as the mayor said, "we had to send away for them and they ain't arrove yet." "We should be getting them in any day now," he explains during the tour. The mayor is Harry Morgan of MASH fame btw.
"I already put one hole in your roof"
After getting support from the local stable boy during the arrest Jack Elam's character becomes Garner's deputy. One liners abound in this adventure. When the deputy asks the sheriff what he'll do after Joe Danby kills him for notifying him of his upcoming arrest, the sheriff replies, "Well then I'll arrest him for both murders."
"Do you always show this peculiar side of your nature?"
Eventually the Danby clan outnumber the sheriff and the few people willing to help him in the matter. He gets them to surrender by chaining Joe in front of a cannon. Garner does such a great job remaining calm and flippant during the most dangerous of circumstances.
Not now, I'm eating not fighting.
When Rudyard Kipling wrote, "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs," he was no doubt referring to James Garner. This should be mandatory viewing for any kids in the house so they can see how real men carry themselves in challenging situations. We give this movie 4.5 out of 5 farts, a 90% would still be an A in school, right? There is nothing really profound or groundbreaking about the movie, just a very well written and executed western comedy that is nothing less than charming. Enjoy.
"Me and the sheriff takes a dim view of showoffs with guns."
"Joe you make me feel tired all over when you talk like that."
"Oh that's funny. That's real funny."
"Get your finger out of the end of my gun!"
"Well what's it gonna be, Danby?"