Sadly Over-hyped

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Having ignored this genre of films for years (due to the enormous amount of material available and the presumed predictability of these films), I have come to enjoy some of them to the point of opening myself up to studying them further. In the case of "Sheriff of Tombstone", I found this one instantly satisfying, whether it be through the mistaken identity plot line or the efforts of the town's sinister mayor to keep gold claim owners from getting their gold to the mint. Roy Rogers is mistaken for a gun-slinging crook because he is holding the man's sawed-off shotgun, and made sheriff of the very corrupt town of Tombstone. Store owner Elyse Knox, granddaughter of the feisty Zeffie Tilbury, at first wants nothing to do with Rogers, believing him to be this bad man, and is surprised when Rogers offers her family help in order to protect her claim. But the real gunslinger arrives and this leads to a show-down between good and evil.Tilbury, a delightfully spry elder lady, steals every scene she is in. Best known to "Our Gang" fans as the cranky old lady who befriends Spanky and the gang in "Second Childhood" and as the grandmother in "The Grapes of Wrath", Tilbury is the type of actress who has you eating out of her hands the moment she pops up on the screen, even though she is in only a few scenes here. She reminds me of Judith Lowry, the elderly character actress of the 1970's whom TV audiences adored for her feisty Mother Dexter on "Phyllis". Sally Payne also offers some amusing moments as George "Gabby" Hayes' estranged daughter who gets to perform a few musical numbers along with Rogers. "B" westerns may not necessarily make you think too much, but they are pleasing time-passers, and this one is among the better ones which I have seen.

There are two main types of Roy Rogers films--the early ones (which are quite good) and the later ones (which, sad to say, are pretty limp). Why the difference? Well, the early ones are much more plot-driven and have only a bit of singing here and there. The later ones, generally, are more personality-driven and little attempt is made to make it look like the old West. Roy plays Roy--and there is so much singing that it's more like a musical variety show than a western. I frankly hate these films and look for the better early ones--like "Sheriff of Tombstone".The film begins with Roy and Gabby playing lawmen. They're leaving town because they have successfully civilized the place--bringing law and order to everyone. However, a nasty rogue is going to Tombstone ('Shotgun' Cassidy) and this galoot claims that they're making him sheriff!! Obviously something is amiss--and the pair decide they'll check out this lawless town. And so, posing as Shotgun, Roy investigates--that is, after Gabby shoots the real one (don't worry folks, he DID have it coming).As I said above, the film is very story-driven. The story, while a bit familiar, is well-acted--with nice dialog and enjoyable characters. Not a brilliant film but a very enjoyable one--and all good fun.

"Sheriff of Tombstone" borrows some history from the legend of Wyatt Earp, as Brett Starr (Roy Rogers) says goodbye to Dodge City and heads west to Tombstone to visit family and search for adventure. Along the way he hooks up with friend and judge, Gabby Whitaker (Gabby Hayes), who laments the one wild oat of his callow youth long gone, Diamond Sal. It would have been cool to have a Diamond Sal show up in this story, but Gabby's daughter Queenie (Sally Payne) turns up instead. With a gig as a singer at the Bonanza Saloon, she belts out a fun tune with 'Ya Shoulda Been Pete', and later does a respectable version of 'Don't Gamble With Romance'. It was interesting to see a female singer handling some of the musical chores in between Roy's songs, as more often it would be the Sons of the Pioneers.Once in Tombstone, Roy's character is mistaken for a hired gun the town boss has brought in to help take over control of the Carson silver mine. The Carson 'gang' is run by seventy seven year old Granny Carson (Zeffie Tilbury), but it doesn't take long for Roy to figure out that Mayor Luke Keeler (Addison Richards) and the sheriff in his pocket (Hal Taliaferro) are the real bad guys. Another B Western veteran, Jay Novello, is also on hand in an interesting role with two identities who sides with the villains.Roy and Gabby almost make it look too easy as they take down the baddies in short order, including Shotgun Cassidy (Harry Woods), the outlaw who's identity Roy assumed at the start of the picture. Roy takes a bullet in the course of the story, and you know that doesn't happen too often. When he's not busting up the bad guys, Roy handles a couple of tunes as well, starting out the picture with 'Ridin' on a Rocky Road', and joining in with Gabby later on 'Sons of the Western Soil'. All in all a fun picture as Roy and Gabby tame Tombstone without too much trouble.

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