The Shakiest Gun in the West

Don Knotts star in this wacky comedy/western.Knotts plays a Philadelphia Dentist who head west to bring oral hygiene.he gets more than he bargained for,in the process.Dr. Jesse Heywood's penchant for being timid nervous,and bumbling provide some pretty funny moments.Knotts is pretty funny here,but i really Barbara Rhoades as Penny.i loved her spunky,and her take no guff attitude.she is the perfect foil for Knott's Zaniness.while this movie won't change your life,it should make you laugh.even if it wasn't funny,i think it would still work as just a western.for me,The Shakiest Gun in the West is a 7/10

This story by Edmund Hartman and Frank Tashlin has certainly got an endearing quality because two comics managed to get hit movies from it. The Shakiest Gun In The West is a reworking of the Bob Hope-Jane Russell classic, The Paleface. Into Hope's shoes steps Don Knotts trembling all the way to the bank.

Knotts takes his Barney Fife character and has him graduate Philadelphia Dental College and decide to take Horace Greeley's advice and go west to seek fame and fortune.

Like Hope he gets himself tangled up with a lady bandit played by the curvaceous Barbara Rhoades. Barbara might not have the development of Jane Russell, but there are few who do. Anyway she's been promised a pardon if she'll find out who's selling guns and whiskey to the Indians.

And to get west she needs a schnook and when Bob Hope's not around, Don Knotts will certainly do. But Knotts certainly has an endearing quality to him as she finds out.

Some western veterans like Don Barry, Terry Wilson, Dub Taylor are all in this cast. This film was the farewell performance of Frank McGrath, best known as one of Hollywood's premier stunt men who turned actor and played Charlie Wooster on Wagon Train. Jackie Coogan is in this one too, playing a church deacon.

Some of the gags from The Paleface are repeated here and some might say get better with age.

Definitely a film for Barney Fife fans the world over.

I saw this movie,by accident.It reminded me a lot,of the book,The Puppy Who Lost his Way.It was filled with well written classic comedy,that I can only see Mr. Knotts performing. The boy,being society.I think it was followed in spirit by other films further down the line.Funny Farm,and it's own references to a miss-adventures in an element that is not ones own. I give it four and a half stars on a scale of five.Two thumbs up,fine holiday fun.....

I love this movie. It is hilarious. Don Knotts proves once again why he was so beloved by audiences, especially children. His winning, comedic character is so sweetly vulnerable. He is a great example to today's comedians, who rely on vulgarities and smart-Alec comments to "entertain" audiences. There are many wonderful supporting players on hand, such as Carl Ballantine, Pat Morita and Donald "Red" Barry. And of course the lovely Barbara Rhoades. Seeing this film as a little boy in the theatre, I thought there was no lovelier creature on the planet-- especially in that green velvet dress!

I hope this commentary is more helpful than the inane, pseudo-intellectual ramblings of the previous comment, which, if it was not made in jest, should have been-- there is no other excuse for it. At least we both agree-- this is a terrific film!

The Shakiest Gun in the West This movie is so funny and many scenes are hysterical. Jesse W. Heywood/Don Knott's was studying to be a dentist. He has a female patient Mrs Stevenson/Katherine Barrett that won't open her mouth and he finally gets her mouth pried open puts in his finger and she bites it. His dental supervisor grabs her faces to show Jesses how to open her mouth and she kicks him. The expressions of Mrs Stevenson not opening her mouth is so funny. Jesse ends up fist fighting with her and they bat each other around. She fights like a man and almost wins til they end up on the ground and she is knocked out with her mouth open and Jesse works on her teeth. Jesse Heywood ends up graduating from dental school as a dentist. He wants to head west to do his dentistry. There are so many parts in this movie that are so funny. A few parts I did not like where the women's dress are too revealing. There are so many funny scenes. Dentist Heywood thinks he is a sharp shooter cause he shot a lot of Indians. His facial expressions of fears, pride and getting drunk are unbelievable. Watch it if you can