🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Burt Kennedy
- Genre: Comedy, Western, Parody
- Release year: 1969
- Runtime (length): 1h 32min
- IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (13K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A chill cowboy passing through accidentally becomes sheriff, outsmarts a bunch of hicks, and gets the girl, all while trying to catch a boat to Australia.
🍿 Support Your Local Sheriff!: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Arrival in Calendar and Accepting the Sheriff Job
Jason McCullough, a gunslinger on his way to Australia, arrives in the lawless town of Calendar, Colorado, which has sprung up due to a gold rush. He witnesses Joe Danby murder a man in cold blood. Seeing an opportunity for quick money, McCullough impresses the town council with his marksmanship and accepts the job of sheriff, despite the high turnover rate.
Taming the Town with Wit
McCullough immediately arrests Joe Danby, the son of the powerful rancher Pa Danby. The jail, however, lacks bars. Using psychology and a clever bluff involving red paint, McCullough manages to keep the dim-witted Joe imprisoned. He also recruits the scruffy town character, Jake, as his deputy.
Conflict with the Danby Family
Pa Danby and his sons attempt several unsuccessful efforts to break Joe out of jail. Frustrated, Pa hires a series of gunfighters to eliminate McCullough, but the sheriff outsmarts them all. Meanwhile, McCullough develops a romantic relationship with Prudy Perkins, the mayor’s accident-prone daughter.
⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Jason McCullough (James Garner): A calm and quick-witted traveler on his way to Australia who becomes the sheriff of a lawless town, relying on his intelligence and marksmanship.
- Prudy (Joan Hackett): The accident-prone and headstrong daughter of the mayor who discovers gold and becomes McCullough’s romantic interest.
- Pa Danby (Walter Brennan): The crotchety patriarch of the Danby family who tries to free his son from jail and control the town.
- Jake (Jack Elam): The initially reluctant and scruffy ‘town character’ who becomes McCullough’s unlikely but loyal deputy.
- Joe Danby (Bruce Dern): The dim-witted youngest son of Pa Danby, whose arrest triggers the conflict with the sheriff.
- Olly Perkins (Harry Morgan): The mayor of Calendar and father of Prudy, often overwhelmed by the chaos of the gold rush town.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Jason McCullough: “I’m on my way to Australia.” – McCullough states this frequently as his reason for not getting too involved, highlighting his initial reluctance.
- Jason McCullough: “Well, we don’t want a massacre on our hands, so just watch it.” – Said with calm authority to a potential gunfighter, showcasing McCullough’s clever approach to conflict resolution.
- Pa Danby: “He stuck his finger in the end of your WHAT?” – Pa Danby’s incredulous reaction to his son Joe being disarmed, exemplifying the film’s comedic absurdity.
- Jason McCullough: “Now, disturbing the peace…that’s a hanging offense.” – Sheriff McCullough says this sarcastically to the town council members who were fleeing from an exploding bordello, highlighting the film’s satirical tone.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $750,000
- Domestic Gross: $12,500,000 (estimated)
- Worldwide Gross: $12,500,000 (estimated)
💥 Support Your Local Sheriff! Reviews
Personal Review
I absolutely loved this movie! James Garner is perfectly cast, and his laid-back style is hilarious against the backdrop of the wild west. The scene where he sticks his finger in the gun barrel still makes me laugh every time, and I appreciate how this film manages to be funny without being crude. It’s a feel-good movie that I can watch over and over again.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of James Garner”
- “Viewers who enjoy Western parodies”
- “Families looking for a clean, funny movie”
- “Those who appreciate witty dialogue and clever humor”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Mild comedic violence”
- “Brief depiction of a saloon brawl”
- “Suggestive humor (reference to a brothel)”
Professional Reviews
- CBR: “This forgotten Western is a brilliant parody. James Garner shines as the reluctant hero, using wit instead of fists. A must-see for fans of classic Westerns with a comedic twist. It cleverly mocks genre tropes without feeling mean-spirited or relying on cheap gags.
- IMDB: “Burt Kennedy has crafted a top dollar irreverent Oater, embracing the clichés of many standard genre pics that had gone before it-and then turning them upside down. While all the time, with this cast of very knowing genre participants, cloaking the picture with love and affection.
- IMDB: ” As a film spoofing the western genre, ‘Support Your Local Sheriff’ is a delight and never stops entertaining the viewer. The script is witty and often riotously funny, with some real jewels for lines, while treating the viewer with respect rather than like idiots.
Audience Reactions
The clever writing and sharp wit kept me laughing throughout the entire movie.: The film’s smart humor and James Garner’s charm are universally praised.
Jack Elam as the deputy is priceless, especially his cluelessness.: Jack Elam delivers a standout comedic performance.
Overall Consensus: A beloved Western comedy that balances clever writing, charming performances, and a gentle spoof of classic Western tropes, making it a timeless and enjoyable film.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “James Garner’s production company, Cherokee Productions, co-produced the film.”
- “Jack Elam’s character, Deputy Jake, was initially hesitant about becoming a lawman, which mirrors Elam’s real-life reservations about taking on comedic roles early in his career.”
- “The film’s title was inspired by bumper stickers that were popular at the time promoting support for local law enforcement.”
🖥️ How to Watch Support Your Local Sheriff!?
Support Your Local Sheriff! is widely available for streaming and purchase. You can find it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video for purchase. Check your preferred streaming service for availability as options may vary. Digital rentals and purchases are also typically offered on Apple TV and other major online stores.
🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Support Your Local Sheriff!, you might like these similar films:
- Cat Ballou (1965): Another comedic Western that spoofs the genre conventions with a quirky female protagonist and a cast of colorful characters.
- Blazing Saddles (1974): A more outrageous and explicitly satirical Western comedy that also pokes fun at the genre’s tropes and stereotypes.
- Maverick (1994): Based on the classic TV series that also starred James Garner, it shares a similar lighthearted tone and comedic approach to the Western genre.
- A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014): A modern Western comedy that uses self-aware humor and anachronistic elements to satirize the Old West.
🛒 Support Your Local Sheriff! Related Products
- Support Your Local Sheriff! [Blu-ray]: High-definition transfer of a classic comedy. A great addition to any film collection. Restored and remastered for best quality.
- Vintage Western Movie Poster – Support Your Local Sheriff!: A reproduction of the original movie poster. Perfect for decorating a home theater or adding to a movie memorabilia collection. Makes a unique gift for film buffs.
- Support Your Local Sheriff! T-Shirt: Official movie merchandise featuring iconic imagery. Comfortable and stylish, made from high-quality materials. Various sizes available.
🎧 Soundtrack
Support Your Local Sheriff! features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Support Your Local Sheriff! was primarily filmed at the Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California. This location was a popular choice for Western films and television shows due to its versatile landscape.
No, Support Your Local Sheriff! is not a remake, but rather an original story written by William Bowers. However, it draws inspiration from classic Western tropes and subverts them for comedic effect, sharing some thematic similarities with films like Rio Bravo and High Noon.
Support Your Local Gunfighter! is often considered a spiritual successor, not a direct sequel. It features a similar comedic tone and stars James Garner, but it has a different plot and characters. They are standalone films sharing a similar style.
The ‘Arizona move’ is a trick Joe Danby uses to provoke another man to draw his gun first, thus justifying his shooting of him. This highlights the twisted sense of justice in the lawless town and sets the stage for McCullough’s arrival and commitment to actual justice.
🔥 Bonus Content
How did Jack Elam die? #shorts #western #hollywoodlegend #biography #hollywoodactor #movie
Ever wondered about the life of that quirky-looking bad guy from ‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’? This video dives into the fascinating story of Jack Elam – a true Hollywood original. Check it out; his life was way more interesting than you’d think!
Support Your Local Sheriff: Best Prudy Moments
Prudy is definitely one of the funniest characters in ‘Support Your Local Sheriff!’ right? This is a compilation of all her best moments, guaranteed to make you laugh all over again.
15 Western Classics You Probably Haven’t Seen
If you loved ‘Support Your Local Sheriff’, you’re probably a fan of westerns in general. This video puts it in a list of 15 ‘must see’ westerns… I think you’ll find your next favorite movie in there!
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