Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)

Director:

Burt Kennedy

Writer:

William Bowers (written by)

Release Date:

26 March 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Plot:

In the old west, a man becomes a sheriff just for the pay, figuring he can decamp if things get tough. In the end, he uses ingenuity instead.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Australia | Mud Wrestling | Courage | Conscience

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

James Garner	...	Jason McCullough
Joan Hackett	...	Prudy Perkins
Walter Brennan	...	Pa Danby
Harry Morgan	...	Olly Perkins
Jack Elam	...	Jake
Henry Jones	...	Henry Jackson
Bruce Dern	...	Joe Danby
Willis Bouchey	...	Thomas Devery
Gene Evans	...	Tom Danby
Walter Burke	...	Fred Johnson
Dick Peabody	...	Luke Danby
Chubby Johnson	...	Brady
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Danvers
Dick Haynes	...	Bartender
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Alden	...	(uncredited)
Robert Anderson	...	Man at Kate's Eatery (uncredited)
Danny Borzage	...	Accordionist at Funeral (uncredited)
Bill Catching	...	Brawler at Emma's (uncredited)
Roydon Clark	...	Brawler at Emma's (uncredited)
Gene Coogan	...	Gunman in Saloon (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	Brawler at Emma's (uncredited)
Duke Fishman	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Richard Hoyt	...	Gunfighter Hired by Danby (uncredited)
Marilyn Jones	...	Bordello Girl at Madame Orr's House (uncredited)
Jack Lilley	...	Danby Family Member (uncredited)
John Milford	...	Gunman McCullough throws rocks at (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Street Brawler (uncredited)
Tom Reese	...	Gunfighter Shot in Jailhouse by McCullough (uncredited)
Robert Robinson	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Gayle Rogers	...	Bargirl (uncredited)
Phil Schumacher	...	Danby Family Member (uncredited)
Paul Sorensen	...	Man Installing Jail Cell Bars (uncredited)
William Tannen	...	Man in Saloon (uncredited)
Jack Tornek	...	Brawl Spectator (uncredited)

Directed by
Burt Kennedy

Writing credits
William Bowers		(written by)

Produced by
William Bowers	....	producer
Bill Finnegan	....	associate producer (as William Finnegan)

Original Music by
Jeff Alexander

Cinematography by
Harry Stradling Jr.		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George W. Brooks

Art Direction by
Leroy Coleman		(as Leroy A. Coleman)

Set Decoration by
Hugh Hunt

Makeup Department
Stanley Smith	....	makeup artist
Helene Parrish	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray DeCamp	....	assistant director (as Ray De Camp)
David Hawks	....	assistant director

Art Department
Walter Wall	....	property master

Sound Department
Franklin Milton	....	recording supervisor
Bruce Wright	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Marcel Vercoutere	....	special effects

Stunts
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching	....	stunt double: Walter Brennan (uncredited)
Roydon Clark	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Lilley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Howard Bradner	....	key grip
Durward Graybill	....	stillman
Wally Meinardus	....	camera operator
Howard Roberts	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman A. Burza	....	wardrobe: men (as Norman Burza)
Florence Hackett	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Stan G. Davis	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Dave Davies	....	publicist
Marjorie Mullen	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Cherokee Productions
• Three Pictures

Distributors

• United Artists (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV)
• Key Video (1985) (USA) (VHS) (Pan and scan for CBS Fox Video)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Les Artistes Associés (1969) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | USA:G | Australia:G | Singapore:PG | West Germany:12 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cherokee Productions

Trivia:

Walter Brennan's part is a spoof of his part in My Darling Clementine (1946), in which he is head of the Clanton clan.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jake (Jack Elams) back pack changes. He is seen with what appears to be a frying pan on the back of the pack with Jake carrying his shovel in his hand. He flips some dynamite into a stream, and in the next scene is seen wading into the stream to get the fish that popped to the surface. His pack back now has the shovel tied to the back and no frying pan.

Quotes:

Henry Jackson:I'd like to remind everyone we're here to consign the remains of Millard Frymore.
Fred Johnson:It's gold, Henry.
Henry Jackson:Gold?
Fred Johnson:Down there in the grave.
Henry Jackson:Well, let's get this coffin out of the way and have a look.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Pioneers of Television: Westerns (#2.2)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Rock of Ages

A Movie For Classic Films Buffs To Check Out

This was a very entertaining movie, far better than the similar "Support Your Local Gunfighter," although the two seem to be companion pieces.

This film sure didn't start out with a bang. I was really disappointed after the first 20 minutes and wondered why this movie had so many good reviews. However, once it picks up, it's excellent.

There are tons of character actors from this late '60s era, all of whom are fun to watch, guys like Jack Elam and Harry Morgan and much more. James Garner is excellent as the cock-sure Maverick-type sheriff. The bad guys, led by veteran Walter Brennan and Bruce Dern provide, I think, the best humor in the film.

As the film goes on, classic film buffs will enjoy all the parodies of past westerns such as Rio Bravo and High Noon. Yup, this turned out to be a real jewel, especially for classic movie fans.