Support Your Local Gunfighter

G

Released May 26, 1971

1h 32m

Western

Comedy

List

62%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

When traveling con man Latigo Smith (James Garner) drifts into a small Western town, he decides to take advantage of a local rivalry between gold-mining factions. Recruiting the shifty Jug May (Jack Elam) to pose as a notorious gunfighter, Smith sets his scheme in motion, while also taking time to romance the lovely Patience Barton (Suzanne Pleshette). However, after his ruse is uncovered, Smith incurs the wrath of the real hired gun, among others, leading to a big shoot-out.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Possibly the worst Western comedy of modern times.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Mar 25, 2004

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This follow-up has trouble getting out of the gate but eventually hits its stride.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 23, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

This genial Western comedy is a disappointing successor, not a sequel, to Support Your Local Sheriff.

Rated: C

Aug 17, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 1/5

Jun 19, 2005

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 3/5

Apr 23, 2005

Full Review

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Matthew B

Support Your Local Gunfighter is not a sequel as such. It features many of the same cast members as Support Your Local Sheriff, and they are playing fairly similar roles, but they are not the same characters and the situation is different. The film is more of the same, but this time the humour is more vulgar and broad than in the first movie. This is reflected in the changes in James Garner's character, this time called Latigo Smith. For all his lackadaisical manner, Jason McCullough is an anti-hero who always makes the heroic decision, even when it does not seem so. Latigo Swift is a genuine anti-hero – a silk-shirted gigolo who preys on women. McCullough takes an honest job and does it well; Smith lies to the town to squeeze money out of them, and only belatedly does the right thing. When it comes to taking a job, he merely comments, "I don't like work. It tires me out." Our hero has a couple of other foibles of a less incriminating nature, including a gambling addiction which causes him to regularly squander his money, and an embarrassing tattoo on his chest which he is trying to have removed. The second movie begins to show some signs of strain, and it is easy to see why a third movie was not attempted. In Support Your Local Sheriff, James Garner and Jack Elam play characters who can be light-heartedly admired in spite of their determination not to be admirable. In Support Your Local Gunfighter, they are less worthy of our respect, but perhaps this is in keeping with the movie's send-up of spaghetti westerns, which also portrayed heroes who put money above all other considerations. However the characters remain likeable thanks to Garner's easy charm, Elam's placid amiability, and the fact that their victims are people who probably deserve to be duped. I wrote a longer appreciation of the two Support Your... movies on my blog page if you would like to read more: https://themoviescreenscene.wordpress.com/2018/02/18/support-your-local-garner-support-your-local-sheriff-1969-support-your-local-gunfighter-1971/

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

James Garner at his best really funny one here we will recommend it, James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, September 14, 2023

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/23

Full Review

steve d

Light and completely forgettable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I don't think I have seen either this movie or the predecessor "Sheriff" since the time they were first released to television. Now in 2021 this one doesn't hold up at all and there's not one scene or gag I recalled. It's hard to understand the same director can let it get so out of hand and pointless with only a two year gap and the same core actors. Shouting lines and theatrics from the start just warned me this was going to be a "try hard" disappointment. Enjoy Support Your Local Sherriff - give this one a pass.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Part I better. Still okay. (Everyone love Garner.)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A fun western to watch. It's a comedy that isn't too overdone.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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Burt Kennedy

Director

James Garner

Latigo

Suzanne Pleshette

Patience

Jack Elam

Jug May

Harry Morgan

Taylor

Joan Blondell

Jenny

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Synopsis

When traveling con man Latigo Smith (James Garner) drifts into a small Western town, he decides to take advantage of a local rivalry between gold-mining factions. Recruiting the shifty Jug May (Jack Elam) to pose as a notorious gunfighter, Smith sets his scheme in motion, while also taking time to romance the lovely Patience Barton (Suzanne Pleshette). However, after his ruse is uncovered, Smith incurs the wrath of the real hired gun, among others, leading to a big shoot-out.

Director: Burt Kennedy
Producer: Burt Kennedy, James Garner
Screenwriter: James Edward Grant
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Cherokee-Brigade Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Western, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 9, 2016
Runtime: 1h 32m

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