I recently watched and enjoyed "Support Your Local Sheriff" and at first thought this might be a sequel, especially given the similar title and near identical cast and even the same director. It isn't but it might as well be given all the above and more, like the obvious read-across of character-types and humorous intent from "Sheriff" to "Gunfighter".
So again James Garner, sporting a great set of mutton-chop sideboards around his face, rolls into a god-forsaken frontier town, hooks up with Jack Elam as his less-than-bright stooge, engages with the town dignitaries to their immediate financial detriment and romances the eccentric daughter, this time Suzanne Pleshette, of prominent local Harry Morgan and has to think quickly to get himself out of a tricky situation at the finish.
It's all played for light laughs with Garner again in good form as the genial rogue, misguidedly addicted to the no. 23 on the local roulette wheel. There's good interplay between Garner and Elam, while a pre-M. A. S. H. Harry Morgan convincingly joins in the fun, Pleshette's character at times seens more crazed then kooky and a shockingly bald Chuck Connors almost steals the show as the impersonated villain.
Containing besides such Western tropes as a rebellious cow-gal tamed by a strong-willed individual, a good old-fashioned bar-room brawl and a gun-fight showdown (well, almost) between the wily Garner and Connors, the film, while having its moments, in the end seems to pack a little less punch.
Still, this was a fun and reasonably enjoyable 90-minute entertainment, probably best seen in conjuction with its predecessor, although maybe watch this one first.
So again James Garner, sporting a great set of mutton-chop sideboards around his face, rolls into a god-forsaken frontier town, hooks up with Jack Elam as his less-than-bright stooge, engages with the town dignitaries to their immediate financial detriment and romances the eccentric daughter, this time Suzanne Pleshette, of prominent local Harry Morgan and has to think quickly to get himself out of a tricky situation at the finish.
It's all played for light laughs with Garner again in good form as the genial rogue, misguidedly addicted to the no. 23 on the local roulette wheel. There's good interplay between Garner and Elam, while a pre-M. A. S. H. Harry Morgan convincingly joins in the fun, Pleshette's character at times seens more crazed then kooky and a shockingly bald Chuck Connors almost steals the show as the impersonated villain.
Containing besides such Western tropes as a rebellious cow-gal tamed by a strong-willed individual, a good old-fashioned bar-room brawl and a gun-fight showdown (well, almost) between the wily Garner and Connors, the film, while having its moments, in the end seems to pack a little less punch.
Still, this was a fun and reasonably enjoyable 90-minute entertainment, probably best seen in conjuction with its predecessor, although maybe watch this one first.