A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Andrew Gray is Tate Butler, a Wild West gunfighter with a problem: He’s not really a gunfighter.

Seems a dime novelist liked the sound of his name and wrote a book about gunfights that never happened and, presto, Tate Butler became a gunfighting legend.

Now young gunmen hoping to make a name for themselves keep showing up, hoping to make that name by winning a duel against Tate Butler.

The situation has gotten so bad that the sheriff or Hayward (Bill Womack) doesn’t want Tate in his town, let alone romancing his daughter Katherine (Diane Ouradnik).

Then Nate gets news that a new preacher has set up shop in the nearby town of Riverton. He goes by the name of Brice Smith (Jason Hunt), and he turns out to be Tate’s step-brother.

With the help of Brice’s wife Lucy (Shanda Renee), Tate sets a plan into motion. He’ll buy a homestead near Riverton and live there as Tate Smith while pretending the real Tate Butler still lives in Hayward.

Problem is, gunfighters — even female gunfighters — keep showing up. And Tate learns he’s no more wanted in Riverton than he was in Hayward.

Andrew Gray as Tate Butler, trying to convince a resident of Hayward that he’s not a gunfighter in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Diane Ouradnik as Katherine, shop keeper and girlfriend of Tate Butler in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Review:

A comedy with Spaghetti Western influences that has its moments — it’s much better than many of the Trinity clones of the 1970s — but ultimately falls flat.

The truly funny jokes are just two few and far between. And too much time is spent focusing on the romance between Tate and Katherine.

And while Andrew Gray is fine in the lead role and Bill Womack turns in a convincing performance as the sheriff of Hayward, too many of the cast members seem way too wooden in front of a camera.

This is part of director Travis Mills’ 12 Westerns in 12 Months series. Please don’t judge the other films by this one. All the others I’ve seen so far are worth checking out, especially the excellent “She Was the Deputy’s Wife.”

Bill Womack as the sheriff, unenthused about Tate Butler’s presence in his town and attraction to his daughter in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

J.D. Pepper as Marshal Pearson, trying to force Tate Butler out of Riverton in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Directed by:
Travis Mills

Cast:
Andrew Gray … Tate Butler
Diane Ouradnik … Katherine
Shanda Renee … Lucy Smith
Jason Hunt … Brice Smith
Bill Womack … The Sheriff
J.D. Pepper … Marshal Pearson
Diane Donato … The Mother
Carol Herrick … Mrs. Cleveland
Glen Gold … Wilson
Blaize Naasz … Waitress
Beverly Guettler … Helen Robinson
John Schile … Horace
John Marrs … John Scott
Kim Williams … Slim
Larry Judkins … Fred
John Peacock … The Kid

Runtime: 74 min.

Shanda Renee as Lucy Smith, helping Tate Butler forge a new future with Katherine in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Jason Hunt as Brice Smith, Tate Butler’s pastor brother in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Memorable lines:

The sheriff, to his daughter Katherine: “You won’t be Tate Butler’s wife. You’ll be his widow.”

The sheriff, trying to coax gunman Tate Butler out of his town: “Why don’t you go and find religion? Or Mexico? I don’t care which one.”

Slim: “I’m gonna show to everyone here that I’m faster than you.”
Tate Butler: “Who cares who’s faster? I don’t.”

Tate Butler, greeted by the sheriff upon his return from a bath in the river: “Ain’t it rude to sneak up on a man when his ammo is wet?”

Tate Butler: “Why are all you lawman such sneaky bastards?”
Marshal Pearson: “It’s what we’re good at.”

Tate Butler to “Dead Shot” John Scott: “Well aren’t you a rude ray of sunshine.”

Andrew Gray as Tate Butler, watching out for gunfighters eager to make a name for themselves in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Glen Gold as Wilson, the old-timer who taunts Tate Butler about his gunfighter ways in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Kim WIlliams as Slim, one of the gunfighters who comes gunning for Tate Butler in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Diane Ouradnik as Katherine, holding two members of the Slim gang at bay with her shotgun in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

John Marrs as ‘Dead Shot’ John Scott, trying to track down Tate Butler in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)

Andrew Gray as Tate Butler and Diane Ouradnik as Katherine discuss their possible future in A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West (2021)