Sheriff of Tombstone (1941)

Memorable, crazy movie

Admirable film.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

"Sagebrush Troubadour" director Joseph Kane's B-movie musical western "Sheriff of Tombstone" has nothing to do with Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and the Clanton gang. Roy is a former Deputy Marshall from Dodge City who turns in his badge after things simmer down and the town settles into peaceful tranquility. Not only does Brett Starr (Roy Rogers) leave the famous Kansas town, but also an unsavory as well as unshaven hombre named Cassidy (Harry Woods of "Monkey Business") plans to pull up stakes, too. Cassidy is widely known for his use of a double-barrel shotgun. A lot of animosity exists between these two characters. "King of the Cowboys" scenarist Olive Cooper wrote this Roy Rogers saga based on "Pride of the Navy" scribe James Webb's original story. Cooper conjures up some good dialogue. Essentially, this oater concerns corrupt officials who rule Tombstone and are doing their best to ruin a harmless old lady, Granny Carson (Zeffie Tilbury of "Camille"), who has struck it rich with a mining claim. Unfortunately, Granny cannot ship bullion to pay her taxes because evil Mayor Luke Keeler (Addison Richards of "Flying Tigers") and saloon owner A.J. Slade (Hal Taliaferro of "Ramrod"), have joined forces to compel Granny into relinquishing her claim because she cannot pay those taxes. They plan to buy her property out. Granny, however, is not inclined to accommodate as readily as Keeler and Slade want. Meantime, Keeler and Slade have another conspirator, Wells Fargo Agent John Anderson (Jay Novello of "The Wonderful Country"), who masquerades as a Mexican bandit named Joe Martinez. Brett Starr arrives in Tombstone and thwarts some men who plunder a clothing store run by Granny's daughter Mary (Elyse Knox of "The Mummy's Tomb"), and Brett takes a fancy to her. He forces the men not only to pay for the dresses they have taken but also to wear them. When Keeler and Slade hear about this encounter, they leap to the conclusion that Brett is actually Cassidy. After Brett left town, he joined up with his relatives to ride to Tombstone, and his friend Judge Gabby Whittaker (George 'Gabby' Hayes of "Blue Steel") rides along with them. During the journey, our heroes have another encounter with the slippery Cassidy. At one point, Gabby plays poker with Cassidy and loots his winnings. The notorious Cassidy tries to bushwhack Gabby in the barn, but the resourceful Gabby surprises him, whirls around in time, and wounds Cassidy. Eventually, when they reach Tombstone, Gabby runs into his own relatives. After the mayor decides to hire Brett as town marshal because he believes erroneously that Brett is Cassidy, Brett learns about Granny's predicament. When Brett tries to ride shotgun on a stagecoach with bullion, he smells an ambush and has the driver reverse the stage and return to Tombstone. During the fray, Brett catches a bullet so that he must have his hand bandaged, but so to does Martinez. "Sheriff of Tombstone" is one of those rare sagebrushers where Roy is wounded. The musical numbers don't slow down the action and each is relatively minor. As usual, Harry Woods makes an excellent villain. "Sheriff of Tombstone" is an adequate shoot'em up with good dialogue and interesting characters, particularly Jay Novello in a dual role.

In so many of his movies, Roy Rogers played a character named Roy Rogers. In "Sheriff of Tombstone," though, he is Brett Starr, a refreshing change and another opportunity for Roy Rogers to show he had more than one dimension.Though fans usually didn't need anything other than Roy, "Sheriff of Tombstone" also had unusually good dialogue and a good story, by James Webb (not the current U.S. Senator, although he too is a good writer), with a good screenplay by Olive Cooper.There is a remarkably good cast, with everyone's favorite sidekick, George "Gabby" Hayes, who was actually a fine actor, capable of many types of character.Harry Woods gets one of his biggest roles, and shows some dimensions too, giving one of his best performances.Jay Novello, almost completely unknown today except to us western fans, also shows a surprising ability at characterization. You really have to see this performance to believe it.Adorable Sally Payne plays a character who is both an eccentric personality and a charming singer, a great role for her and a great chance for us to see her ability.Songs, for her and for Roy, come from the great Bob Nolan as well as Sol Meyer and Peter Tinturin, neither of whom I am familiar with, no doubt my loss.Music in Roy Rogers movies is usually rather pedestrian, but the songs here are memorable.The great Joe Kane is both director and associate producer, and his touch helps make this a superb B western.Republic might not have spent a lot of money, but there is a lot of talent and effort in this excellent movie.

Retiring as Sheriff of Dodge City, Roy comes to Tombstone to be with his brother, only to find he's dead and the town overcome with lawlessness. He's almost immediately mistaken for a hired gun, called upon by crooked businessmen to be the new Sheriff.The Sheriff Of Tombstone has all the things you'd expect from a Roy Rogers western, mainly some good action scenes and a few catchy songs but not much else, making this barely adequate entertainment and not one of his best adventures.Roy and especially George "Gabby" Hayes are good, as usual. I just wish this were a better vehicle.

Roy Rogers (as Brett Starr) gets out of Dodge, with some of his brother's family, to become "Sheriff of Tombstone". Along the way, he meets old up with old pal George "Gabby" Hayes (as Gabby), now a lawyer. Sally Payne returns as Gabby's daughter Queenie. Mr. Rogers and company find lawlessness in Tombstone, led by corrupt Mayor Addison Richards and wayward Sheriff Harry Woods.Jay Novello steals away with all acting honors as John Anderson aka Joe Martinez; Mr. Novello is dialect-able, makes terrific getaways - and, he is more fun to watch than the cute kids, the granny, and the love interest for Rogers. Novello's versatility is very much appreciated in this film. By the way, the film closes with a suggestion Rogers is about to do some major neckin' with Elyse Knox (as Mary). Rogers and Ms. Payne share in a light, pleasant soundtrack, highlighted by Rogers' "Sons of the Western Foil" and Payne's "Two-Gun Pete". ****** Sheriff of Tombstone (1941) Joseph Kane ~ Roy Rogers, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Jay Novello