User reviews

Good family film - something particularly wholesome about Kenneth More - and I don't want to 'rain on the parade' (More is one of my favourite actors and 1958 one of my favourite years - see also: A Night to Remember', More et al 1958). But there does seem to be a lack of chemistry between More (Jonathan Tibbs) and Jayne Mansfield (Kate) - notwithstanding that this is primarily a spoof-western comedy rather than a RomCom. Did they actually get on? Some of the scenes with just the two of them are painfully laboured. But, yes, the film (due in no small part to the laconic ease of More) is entirely watchable, and the production values - even for this lightweight film - are as high as you would expect from any mainstream Hollywood film of the day.

A British comedy Western filmed in Spain, starring a bastion of English acting (Kenneth Moore), an American sex-bomb (Jayne Mansfield) and directed by the man who brought us High Sierra & White Heat (Raoul Walsh}. Yes that's quite a hodge-podge of elements and it's no surprise to find that that's exactly what the film is; a mixture of fun froth and cringe inducing oddities.

The film is adapted by Howard Dimsdale from a short story written by Jacob Hay. The plot centres around Jonathon Tibbs (Moore), the young son of a family of English gunsmiths. He travels to the American West in the 1880s to sell firearms to the locals. While on stagecoach route he survives an Indian attack purely by stiff upper lip British luck, and then he inadvertently acquires a reputation of quickness on the draw due to his wrist mounted Derringer style weapon. Sensing an opportunity to finally clean up Fractured Jaw, which is in the middle of a war between The Lazy S & Box T factions, the mayor bluffs Tibbs into becoming the sheriff. Cue hilarity as the hopelessly ill equipped Englishman starts to clean up the town with the help of buxom saloon owner Kate (Mansfield) and his new family; the Indians.

The problems with the film are many, the over used fish out of water formula, the budget restrictions being over obvious and the glaringly blatant lack of chemistry between the two oddly casted leads-are just the ones that first spring to mind. Then you can add the bad idea to include the likes of Robert Morley and Sid James in your film, and give them next to no time on screen. So yes it's not too harsh to say that The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw is a weak film in many ways. Yet it is funny, something that comes quite often with the fish out of water formula if the writing is clever enough. Mercifully Dimsdale's screenplay sets up a number of humorous set pieces and Walsh, tho long past his best, professionally puts them together.

Moore gives the whole British tenderfoot act his complete gusto, and Mansfield looks terrific; every inch the sex-bomb befitting her legacy. Some fine support comes from Henry Hull & Bruce Cabot, while the tunes (Mansfield dubbed by the brilliant Connie Francis), notably the gorgeous theme song "In The Valley Of Love," keep the film brisk and firmly footed in the light entertainment department. It's a film that if you dwell on it too much could drive you to distraction, but as time fillers go in the comedy Western sub-genre, it just about finishes above average and is recommended for like minded adults on a very rainy day. 6/10

Kenneth More and Jayne Mansfield star in The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw which plays very much like a Carry On film. In fact Sid James of the Carry On company has a brief role as a drunken stagecoach passenger and kind of lends an official presence to this satire of the western. The Carry On crew would later film Carry On Cowboy which this bears some resemblance to.

The real model for this film is Destry Rides Again as Kenneth More plays a rather mild mannered Englishman who goes west to sell firearms, firearms manufactured by his father Robert Morley's company. More sells Morley on the fact that in the lawless American west what better place can the company find a better market.

Poor Moore he manages to get himself involved in a range war between two large ranches, gets appointed sheriff of the town of Fractured Jaw and gets made an adopted member of the local Indian tribe. But this was not without its pleasant side as he manages to also win saloon singer Jayne Mansfield. She's more like Wrangler Jane of F Troop than Marlene Dietrich.

Jayne gets three songs also and she's dubbed by the familiar voice of Connie Francis. Not that Connie doesn't sing them well, but we know that's Connie Francis coming from Mansfield. They should have used an unknown singer.

The film has its amusing moments, but it really is an overblown Carry On film.

I just happened to be at my father`s house and he had the western channel on.Which my father is a diehard western fan.This movie came on and I couldn`t believe Jayne Mansfield was in a western.I decided to watch some of the movie and got interested in it.It was not one of the best movies I had ever seen but I did enjoy it.I thought Kenneth Moore was very good as the sheriff.I didn`t really care for the singing in this movie but I did enjoy seeing Jayne Mansfield.

In the first place, the cliché of the "fish out of water" might be over-used now, but it was hardly over-used in 1958. There are echoes of Bob Hope's Paleface and Son of Paleface, but those were ten years earlier.

Secondly, just because a movie might have had some scenes filmed in Spain does not make it a Spaghetti Western. Spaghetti Westerns are westerns produced by Italians and directed by Italians. That's where the name "spaghetti" comes from, see?

The Western is not my favorite genre, but I enjoy Kenneth Moore. Jayne Mansfield does an adequate job. My favorite is of course poor William Campbell as Keno.

Kenneth More, the British Comedian stars in his first Hollywood movie with Jayne Maynesfield, the blonde bombshell in this spoof of westerns where a man who would rather drink tea than pick a gun tames the west. The film is well-directed by the veteran Michael Curtiz, is mildly amusing to extremely funny in parts. Jayne sings some songs, especially a catchy one with echoes. What else to say, good fluff.

Jayne Mansfield plays Kate, boarding house owner, and into town comes Kenneth Moore, a gun salesman from England. Not only are the songs by Jayne dubbed, it sounds like some of the lines are too. Starts out slow, gets better as it goes along. The mayor and the Indian chief steal the movie. There are a few gags and laughs, sort of an early version of Mel Brooks "Blazing Saddles". Nothing real good in "Special Features" on the DVD, but I guess that's due to the fact it was filmed in 1958. No real surprises here... your run of the mill spaghetti western with some laughs thrown in. According to the DVD liner notes included, this was filmed in England and in Spain (?) Too bad they didn't do more with Robert Morley; could have spiced things up more.

A proper British gentleman named Jonathan Tibbs (Kenneth More) attempts to improve the fortunes of his uncle's (Robert Morley) London gun company is to sell their supplies in the Wild West such as his large rifles and small Derringer pistol . Tibbs traveling in the American West , when inadvertently takes place an Indian attack on the stagecoach in which he is a humble passenger (along with comical Brit Sidney James at a brief appearance) . Later on , the stagecoach gets to the nearest little town , as he arrives in troublesome Fractured Jaw which is being plagued by outlaws (William Campbell) and band wars . He then is appointed sheriff by Mayor Masters (Henry Hull) of the raucous town . A series of misunderstandings give him the completely fake reputation of being a skill gunfighter and he is inveigled into becoming a botcher sheriff . Meantime , two trigger-happy local ranchers (Bruce Cabot) squaring up against each other, along with unruly cowboys , villains and marauding Indians . It's as well he is getting advice from gorgeous innkeeper Kate (Jayne Mansfield).

Hilarious Western comedy in which Kenneth More as bungler sheriff shows his particular talent ; as he is a London gentleman turned into smooth-talking, fast-on-the-draw gunman . It includes a lot of humor , songs , sprawling , almost primitive action teeming across the screen . A rip-roaring Western/comedy as the conventions of the Wild West are turned upside down . This funny picture is a gag feast , plenty of humor , diverting situations and absurd sketches in Bob Hope style . Amusing and spasmodic comedy with expert comedian British Kenneth More acting in his stereotyped role by relinquishing creative control and concentrating on humor based on confusion and the known formula : ¨fish out water¨ along with nice inventive bits , skilfully combining the entertainment with the amusement . Kenneth More runs away with every cowboy cliché and even arranges to wind up with the girl . Busty as well sultry Jayne Mansfield who ropes the nervous Kenneth More/Jonathan Tibbs into marriage ; sassy and sweetie Jayne Mansfield sings some songs , though her singing voice is dubbed by Connie Francis . Here Jayne Mansfield was 6 weeks pregnant to Mickey Hargitay when production began . Important appearance by Hollywood veteran Henry Hull , as town Mayor and Bruce Cabot : John Ford's usual ; in addition , prestigious Brit secondaries such as Ronald Squire , Sidney James and Robert Morley and uncredited Al Mulock and Steven Berkoff as extra . Lively and adequate musical score by Robert Farnon including catching songs . Colorful as well as evocative cinematography by Otto Heller . The film has a historical interest , deemed to be the first Western shot in Spain in the following locations : Colmenar Viejo , La Pedriza and Manzanares Del Real , where were subsequently filmed lots of Paella and Spaghetti Western in the 60s and 70s .

The motion picture produced by Daniel M. Angel was middlingly directed by Raoul Walsh . From his starts in the silent cinema he achieved successful films until the 50s and forward , early 60s , when he was less dominant , but is still stayed lots of lusty adventure , stories of comradeship and friendship , and Raoul Walsh makes the most of plentiful action scenes . Walsh was an expert director of all kind genres but with penchant in Western as ¨Colorado territory¨ , ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Along the great divide¨, ¨Saskatchewan¨, ¨King and four queens¨ , ¨A distant trumpet¨ ; Adventure as ¨Thief of Bagdad¨, ¨Captain Horatio Hornblower¨, ¨World in his hands¨, ¨Blackbeard the pirate¨ , ¨Sea devils¨ ; Warlike as ¨Objetive Burma¨ , ¨Northern pursuit¨, ¨Marines let's go¨ ; and Noir film as ¨White heat¨, ¨High Sierra¨, ¨They drive by night¨, ¨The roaring twenties¨. And this acceptable ¨The sheriff of fractured jaw¨, rating : 5,5/10 ; fairly straightforward movie and passable Western comedy . This average Western film makes it of the lesser interesting of Raoul Walsh genre entries.

Before Italy provided a new home for the production of westerns Raoul Walsh took an unlikely pair of stars in the form of Kenneth More and Jane Mansfield - with a supporting cast ranging from Bruce Cabot to Sid James - to Spain to make this glossy CinemaScope western in Spain.

More cuts a deliberately incongruous figure reminiscent of Ruggles of Red Gap and anticipating John Steed as a tenderfoot in a frock and bowler carrying an umbrella who knows so little about the westerns he actually refers to Jesse James as 'she', and compares consuming the drink at the town bar as "like drinking a porcupine".

This little-known Western will probably be most attractive to contemporary audiences for one reason only...Jayne Mansfield. And Jayne Mansfield fans will indeed not be disappointed with this charming little movie which pairs sassy Miss M with the straight-laced British actor Kenneth More.

More is incredibly charming in this movie (as he tends to be in most of his screen appearances) and plays well of fast-talking saloon owner Mansfield. This is probably Mansfield's best on-screen partnership since her Rock Hunter appearance with Tony Randall. Gorgeously photographed in sumptuous Deluxe colour and with some nifty saloon songs from Mansfield (dubbed by Conny Francis), this is a sweet, amusing little movie with solid performances from two highly likable actors.

Hopefully, its release in the JM box set will introduce this film to a new generation of viewers. While scarcely a cinema classic, it's a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Enjoy!

This is a slightly above average Comedy Western, with Kenneth More in the lead role, More an English Gentleman being out of his comfort zone does well as the fish out of water Sheriff.

The tragic Jayne Mansfield looked great as the Saloon owner, although maybe a bit too much red lipstick, but acted OK as well. Its worth watching just for her.

This was reasonably well made, with good scenery, and the realistic looking western town, it had a good storyline and the supporting and character actors did ok, sometimes a bit too much character though.

But it was fun and interesting, and not too daft, like some westerns are.

A comedy that takes a cultured, well-bred Englishman and plops him down in the middle of the American "Wild West" wasn't new when this film was made ("Ruggles of Red Gap" did it in 1918 and was remade at least twice) but this isn't a prime example of the premise. Although he's a bit too old for the part, Kenneth More does a good job as a gun salesman for a British firearms company owned by his family who is sent to the West to sell his family's products and the Spanish scenery fits in quite well for the American west. Veteran character actor Henry Hull gleefully chews the scenery as the crotchety, scheming mayor who finagles More into taking the job of sheriff of the tough, wild town of Fractured Jaw, which is plagued by a feud between the forces of two local ranchers and troubles with local Indians, with Bruce Cabot playing the head of one of the warring factions. On the downside, the rest of the supporting cast is weak and much of the humor falls flat.

However, the film's biggest negative is Jayne Mansfield, playing a tough saloon singer who falls for More. She's just, to put it charitably, awful. She can't act to save her life, but her acting wasn't the reason she was hired for this--or any other--picture. She had done comedies before ("Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter", "The Girl Can't Help It") so she had some idea of how to deliver lines, but you sure couldn't tell by her performance in this film. She's inept to the point of embarrassment. Her chest was her single biggest talent (or talents, depending on your point of view) and even that's not enough to carry a picture. She and More have no chemistry whatsoever, and even though More gives it "the old college try", there's just nothing there.

Her incompetence ruins what potential the picture had, but given the script's limitations and usually reliable director Raoul Walsh's heavy-handed direction, it really didn't have a whole lot of potential to begin with. I don't know if it was a hit or not--it may have been in England, but I can't see how American audiences would have taken to it. Western comedies don't have a particular good success record overall--"Blazing Saddles" notwithstanding--and this picture is a good example of why. There are, at most, three reasons to watch this film, Kenneth More's amusing performance being one of them, but otherwise, forget it.

Kenneth Moore usually had a very acute sense of his acting limitations and the type of appearance which would use the talents he undoubtedly had to the full. He was thus usually very enjoyable to watch, ('Genevieve', 'The Thirty Nine Steps'. 'A Night to Remember'), and, in one case, (in terms of films - his later TV appearances, such as in the first BBC 'Forsythe Saga' is something different), his talents coincided exactly with the demands of the film to produce a really good, memorable film, ('Reach for the Sky'). Unfortunately, his usual caution failed him entirely in this sad excuse of an 'entertainment' movie. It is lavishly produced on an epic, Cinemascopic scale, (and one presumes his fee for appearing was commensurate). It has one of the best directors in the field, (Roaul Walsh), and a stock of standard 1950s British support characters, (inevitably including Sidney James), in attendance as well. Beyond this, however, it has nothing at all going for it. The essential humorous 'core' of the film, (the incongruity of Moore's upper class Englishman amongst the crudities, (and what, even by the 1950s, were becoming stereotypical film clichés), of the 'Wild West'), wears off after about the first fifteen minutes and becomes increasingly tiresome as the film progresses. The 'plot' is wafer-thin and recourse has to be made to inserting songs, (which have not worn at all well over the decades and are all instantly forgettable), in order to 'entertain' the audience. To make matters worse, the background scenery does not even LOOK like 'the Wild West', (but, rather, a cross between the Yorkshire Dales and North Wales). Finally, (oh dear, oh dear), there is Miss Mansfield's 'performance'. Full marks for effort and determination, but whether it is through trying to comprehend what she is saying in her 'southern drawl', (which seems to change almost from scene to scene, but still remains largely impenetrable for long stretches of the film), or from listening to her warbling attempts to get through the aforementioned songs, one unfortunately just has to draw the conclusion that she simply 'did not have it' in terms of being a star to carry a film in a lead role. Her physical resemblance to Munroe is obviously a strong one, but, as this film shows all too clearly, was just not enough in itself to build a career on in films. Overall, then, a sad affair and waste of talents and resources through inappropriate usage. One for passing a couple of hours if one is really ill/down in the dumps on a wet afternoon and just wants something to 'pass the time' before tea, but is unlikely ever to want to see again.

Two stars for Ms Mansfield's obvious charms (oh for 3D!).

More was (and knew he was) an actor of limited range, essentially he played himself and did it well. His early work in the "Doctor" films is pleasing and his skillful creation of Douglas Bader in "Reach for The Sky" made the man a lot more charming than he REALLY was.

He was in effect, to the 1950's what Hugh Grant was to the 1990's: a soft spoken inoffensive Englishman, well bred and thrust into situations where his good breeding kept him afloat.

In this "Western" he is the scion of a British gunmaker sent to the Wild West to sell the companies wares. Let's be frank, More was TOO OLD for the part, although trim and dark haired he was clearly middle aged and the "Hugh Grant schtick" of youth and lack of worldly experience looks foolish.

Ms Mansfield looks decorative and the cinch waisted outfits certainly display her "talents" - sadly her acting is mostly wooden and distracted and the lack of chemistry between the leads is obvious.

The distraction of seeing so many British actors mugging, and mangling their vowels to sound American just reinforces my opinion that this is a dud and should be shelved next to "Space Mutiny" (see elsewhere)

I just loved this film. Kenneth Moore was inspired as the English gentleman buffoon. When you get that 'innocent abroad' persona - for example with Ali G in America; with 'The Idiot Abroad' etc, it's a brilliant tool for cutting through prevailing cultural norms, even if they are for example, whether it's etiquette to shoot first and speak later, or better to proffer a nice cup of tea. When he 'disarms' the injuns at the start of the film it's beautifully done and dead funny.

Jayne Mansfield is like a cartoon character, full blown - in a not quite 'Marilyn' way - and a reasonable foil for our Ken. Even her '50s starlet soon to be housewife' style of singing, (check out 'The Valley Of Love'), seemingly so inappropriate in a rough, tough saloon owner/ music hall glamour girl, fits in so neatly. The whole thing is a pastiche of the age - the 'civilized' 50s making sense of a wild, wild world, with a boy meets girl bottom line.

Like I said - brilliant! Oh and English classic comedian Syd James has a cameo role, so even better.

Kenneth More plays Jonathan Tibbs, a rich upper class guy with little sense...or so it appears when the story begins. For some reason, the rich guy owns a gun company and they are in financial straits....so he decides to head to the American west because as the English all know, those cowboys love their guns.

On the way there, Jonathan begins having all sorts of crazy adventures. First, he captures a local Indian chief and then spares his life. Second, when he arrives in town, he is mistaken for a gunslinger and suddenly this results in him being appointed sheriff AND everyone apparently now wanting to kill him. How is this clueless guy going to manage to avoid being killed AND woo the local hot babe (Jayne Mansfield)?

I was very surprised by this film. The title sounds pretty dumb but the story is charming....a comedy but with many cute moments instead of laugh out loud ones. A cute parody of the Hollywood version of the old west, instead of debunking all the American myths about the west, it runs with them and results in a fun time for the viewers.

By the way, the singing appears to actually be done by Mansfield, as later in life she had a nightclub act and sang for guests.

I thought this would be the silliest movie ever, so silly that I would turn it off. It was actually really cute, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. So, even if you think that a western spoof about an English gentleman who accidentally becomes sheriff of a lawless town and courts saloon madam Jayne Mansfield, won't be your cup of tea, give it a chance and get ready to laugh.

Kenneth More wins the audience over quickly the way Bob Hope did in The Paleface. He's a proper English gent who gets in far over his head by a giant misunderstanding. His family business in England (headed by his father, Robert Morley) is to sell guns, but when he accidentally shows his merchandise to the wrong people in the wild west, he's thought to be a fast gunslinger. All at once, he's feared and catered to, and the crooked mayor, Henry Hull, appoints him as sheriff of the town.

This is a very fun movie that enjoys making fun of itself without coming across as ridiculous. Jayne Mansfield is the stereotypical saloon girl, Henry Hull is the stereotypical crooked politician, and Bruce Cabot is the stereotypical outlaw, but everyone has so much fun doing it. No one seems like they're about to laugh or that they're so far above westerns they deserve to make fun of it. Henry is fantastic, adding class and professionalism to the silly movie. He makes the most of every opportunity and steals the scene away from the leads more than a few times. Jayne is cute as a button and gets to lip-synch to a couple of Connie Francis songs, making audiences wonder why Marilyn Monroe was such a big deal. I recently read that this movie was supposed to star Marilyn and Clifton Webb, which I'm sure would have been just as adorable!

By all means, not perfect, the story is rather predictable in that it uses the somewhat over-used fish-out-of-water formula, and there are one or two scenes due to the chemistry, the effectiveness of which is varied throughout the course of the film, of the leads feel laboured. However, The Sheriff of Fractured is a lovingly filmed movie with cinematography, sets and costumes set in the grand tradition of the genre that look beautiful, and there is a witty soundtrack including the touching In the Valley of Love. The script made me laugh and smile, Walsh's direction is great, Kenneth More is at his most diffident, Jayne Mansfield is appealing and sexy and it isn't everyday you see Sidney James as a drunk. So overall, it is a flawed, but fun and charming film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I do not get the haters towards The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw. It is not Shane, The Searchers or The Big Country, it is a western spoof ( like Paleface, Son of Paleface and Ruggles Of Ted Gap). One point that those who do not like the movie believe is there is no chemistry between British Arms Merchant ( Kenneth More), who becomes Sheriff ( despite having no idea how to use a gun) and Saloon owner/entertainer Kate (Jayne Mansfield).,There is a lot of chemistry between them. From More's perspective ( and mine), just look at Jayne Mansfield. From Kste's perspective he is a gentleman. He knows how to act, is well mannered, well dressed and well spoken. Kate herself notes she would love to get away from Fractured Jaw and be around "His ( More's) kind of people." There is also the kissing scene, after she unsuccessfully tries to get him to learn to shoot. Why? he is distracted by her looks, The one thing I did not like was Mansfield and More Superimposed on a blue screen against a western setting ( Far too obvious there is a blue screen). Finally, If you like westerns and ( or) want to see what Jayne Mansfield looks like, watch this movie. It is important to note her films are rarely shown. Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw and The Girl Can't Help It are the most often screened, and even Fractured Jaw has only 19 posts, about it, which should tell you something. So if you get a chance to see it, do not miss this excellent western spoof. 9/10 stars.

This is a pretty good movie. So many 'comedies' these days aren't funny. I actually laughed at some of the silly dialogue. Pretty clever writing. Well, I gotta write some more so here goes..It was pretty good, funny moments, let's see, what else can I say?

They want me to say more. Jeez I wouldn't have bothered if I knew all this. Maybe this is enough. If so, have a good day.

Still too short. Maybe I'll do the pledge of allegiance. Or maybe I can dream up something.

Enough? Not yet. Ok here goes. Good writing, good cast-that Mansfield is gorgeous. I see now what all the fuss was about.

Nope gotta keep going. It's really hot around here, in the northeast. How about where you are? Huh?