Richard Arlen is Ward Young, sheriff in a small town ruled by a crooked gambler named Stragg (Bruce Bennett). Stragg’s caught cheating during a card game and winds up gunning down an unarmed man named Joe Miller. His brother, Burt, flees the scene.
Young is determined to bring to Stragg to justice. But he’ll have to do it quickly. Stragg has the town council under his thumb and has convinced them to change the office of sheriff from an elected to an appointed position.
The town leaders’ shortage of backbone causes a split between the sheriff and his young deputy — his own son, Faron. Why risk your life, Faron figures, if the town won’t back you up.
Meanwhile, Stragg brings in gunman Snipe Harding (John Carradine) to eliminate his problems — which include Burt, the witness to murder — and Ward Young, who has no intention to hang up his badge. Harding’s specialty: being the hidden gun, shooting from ambush so a gunfight that looks fair really isn’t.
Review:
An interesting premise dies a slow death thanks a grade Z production values and the most wooden of performances by country singer Faron Young, who was making his first film appearance. He appeared in three Westerns and played a character named Faron in all three.
Oh, Carradine gives a spirited performance as the hired gun, humming tunes and planning to romance a young cutie as he goes about his deadly job. But that’s about it for acting highlights.
A running title called “The Sheriff” helps move the plot along, but that device is used far more effectively in “Slaughter Trail.” This was also one of the first credited film roles for Angie Dickinson, who plays Faron’s sweetheart.
Directed by:
Albert Gannaway
Cast:
Bruce Bennett … Stragg
Richard Arlen … Sheriff Ward Young
John Carradine … Snipe Harding
Faron Young … Deputy Faron Young
Lloyd Corrigan … Judge Wallis
Angie Dickinson … Becky Carter
Damian O’Flynn … Kingsley
Irving Bacon .. Doc Carter
Tom Hubbard … Grundy
Ron Gans … Burt Miller
Bill Ward … Joe Miller
Lee Morgan … Emmett
Runtime: 66 min.
Songs:
“The Sheriff” (title tune)
“Vice Versa”
Memorable lines:
Sheriff Ward Young to his son, Faron: “Don’t judge the town by a few spineless people.”
Sheriff Ward Young: “This is a good town. What’s happened here happens lots of place. Folks turn their eyes away too long and when they turn back somebody like Stragg is in the saddle.”
Deputy Faron Young: “He’s been there quite a spell, dad. And he’s sitting taller every day.”
Snipe Harding: “Some days just go right. I’m Capricorn, Grundy. What are you?”
Grundy: “I’m nervous. Ward Young is the fastest gun in the country.”
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