Six-Shootin' Sheriff

I spent an hour last night watching this, with a bowl of popcorn and a copy of the original mimeographed Colony shooting script in hand. Not a great film, but an educational experience. This copy of the script is signed by Don Miller - one of Ed Woods pseudonyms - and while it might not have been his, it could have served as a model for his later work.

Six Shootin Sheriff is not Shakespeare or Citizen Kane, and the cast treats the material accordingly. The film follows the script for continuity, but very few of the lines are delivered word for word. Marjorie Reynolds (better known as "that Linda Mason" in Holiday Inn) tries a little harder than the cowpokes, but no one puts forth much dramatic effort. The action sequences are better.

The budget for this film was minimal and it shows. Sets vary from 1880's mining town to 1930's living room (the chintz print sofa and cocktail dresses are nice touches). Music wraps about a minute into both ends of the film, with only dialogue and sound effects in the middle. The script has a lot of "night" scenes, which look like day scenes with a filter. My overall impression is that Grand National wasted very little money in re-shooting or cutting on this film.

Not a bad way to spend an hour, though. The action is good, and the story is interesting enough that I only slept through a couple of pages of the script.

Ken Maynard has finished serving his time for a crime he did not commit. He comes into town, and the man who framed him tells him what happens and orders him out. Ken won't go. He gets shot in the back, is nursed by Marjorie Reynolds, and is appointed sheriff. He tries to clean up the town, but his brother, Bob Terry, won't take his advice to go straight.

It's a clunky script, eked out with more horse-riding than usual in a B western this late. Maynard is getting a bit old and chunky to play the love interest for Miss Reynolds, although his still rides his horse, Tarzan, well. Production was undoubtedly hurt by the chaos production company Grand National was going through. Overall, a badly made, rote B Western.

As Jim "Trigger" Morton, Ken Maynard portrays a man recently released from prison after being framed for bank robbery, who returns to his former community with but a lone cause in mind - to clear his name and avenge himself upon the one responsible for his unjust conviction: Ace Kindall (Warner Richmond); however, fate decrees an additional role for him as the eponomyous crime fighter in this well-made Grand National feature. Maynard, a trick rider for Buffalo Bill's barnstorming troupe, later performed an identical function in Hollywood during the silent era, and his equestrian skill aboard his unique white stallion Tarzan helps to lift this work above the routine "B" Western level, as director Harry Fraser assures that the action moves smartly, with spare dialogue well delivered by such excellent character performers as Walter Long and Earl Dwire.

Ken Maynard who had seen better days as a cowboy hero stars in this B western for poverty row Grand National Pictures as a Six-Shootin' Sheriff who has on his resume the fact he did some time in the joint. The citizens of the town where he's made sheriff are more impressed with the way he shoots. Rides pretty good too, but then again that was Maynard's real life background.

This western is about as cheap as they come. Maynard wants to round up his old gang that doublecrossed him back in the day. He also learns his younger brother is running with them now.

Maynard's leading lady Marjorie Reynolds would graduate to A films soon and radio and TV stardom in The Life Of Riley.

Lots of stock footage and poor editing characterize Sin Shootin' Sheriff.