Bumbling wimp Phil P. Phillips (amiable Troy Donahue), who has just finished divinity school, decides to settle down in the dangerous frontier hamlet of Yucca Flats. When a dastardly gang of seven criminals take over the town, it's up to Phil to stand up to them.
Director Albert Zugsmith, who also co-wrote the witless script with Blair Robertson, tries way too hard to create and sustain a wacky off-the-wall tone that unfortunately registers as painfully forced and unfunny: The pathetic caricatures of Hitler and Mae West, overdone sound effects, frequent use of an artificially sped-up camera, and especially the nonstop barrage of often cringe-worthy slapstick gags prove to be more irritating than amusing. Moreover, the goofy humor is far too slight and silly to sustain a 99 minute feature length running time. While Elizabeth Campbell as the cross-dressing Cookie, Carlos Rivas as ornery flunky Sam, and German Robles as a deliciously wicked Devil all have a field day with their juicy roles, their constant mugging alas can't (and doesn't) redeem this floundering mess. Emilio Fernandez has a regrettably minor part as the cowardly and ineffectual sheriff. Gabriel Figueroa's sharp cinematography makes this movie look far better than it deserves. A tiresome misfire.
Director Albert Zugsmith, who also co-wrote the witless script with Blair Robertson, tries way too hard to create and sustain a wacky off-the-wall tone that unfortunately registers as painfully forced and unfunny: The pathetic caricatures of Hitler and Mae West, overdone sound effects, frequent use of an artificially sped-up camera, and especially the nonstop barrage of often cringe-worthy slapstick gags prove to be more irritating than amusing. Moreover, the goofy humor is far too slight and silly to sustain a 99 minute feature length running time. While Elizabeth Campbell as the cross-dressing Cookie, Carlos Rivas as ornery flunky Sam, and German Robles as a deliciously wicked Devil all have a field day with their juicy roles, their constant mugging alas can't (and doesn't) redeem this floundering mess. Emilio Fernandez has a regrettably minor part as the cowardly and ineffectual sheriff. Gabriel Figueroa's sharp cinematography makes this movie look far better than it deserves. A tiresome misfire.
