The Sheriff Won't Shoot (1965) - Once Upon a Time in a Western

Marco Mariana plays Sheriff Jim Day, the character referenced in the title, a lawman who mistakenly gunned down his own father in a shoot-out and now shies away from guns.

Nevertheless, he takes the job of sheriff in Richmond, a town where a stage has just been robbed of $100,000 and a town in which such banditry isn’t a one-time occurrence.

What the new sheriff doesn’t know is that his brother Allan (Mickey Hargitay) is leader of the bandits and that he’s in cohoots with the local banker Vermont.

Once Jim arrives, Allan figures to head West to avoid a confrontation between siblings.

In addition to his lawless ways, pretty banker’s daughter Desiree (Pilar Clemens) could come between them. Jim figured to marry her, but she’s fallen for Allan.

The only problem with Jim’s plan: He stashed that $100,000 in loot in the town bank, and now it’s disappeared.

He’s not leaving town without the money. And he’s not above holding Desiree hostage in order to find out where it’s hidden.

Mickey Hargity as Allan, leader of the outlaw gang in The Sheriff Won't Shoot (1965)

Mickey Hargitay as Allan, leader of the outlaw gang in The Sheriff Won’t Shoot (1965)

Marco Mariani as Sheriff Jim Day, reluctant to use his guns in The Sheriff Won't Shoot (1965)

Marco Mariani (Dan Clark) as Sheriff Jim Day, reluctant to use his guns in The Sheriff Won’t Shoot (1965)

Review:

A lively little film — the print I watched ran just 76 minutes — even though it doesn’t really exploit the plot twist suggested by the title.

Yeah, Sheriff Jim Day hesitates to gun men down. But he’s certainly no coward, and he has three deputies backing him who have no such qualms about using their six-shooters.

The film features three fetching ladies. In addition to the Desiree character, Aiche Nana plays a saloon girl involved with the banker and Solvi Stubing plays Rita, daughter of the town’s previous sheriff. She takes quick interest in the new sheriff.

There’s plenty of violence too, including the brutal beating/shooting of a gang member who tries to double-cross Allan by demanding a ransom for Desiree and one of the largest and deadliest saloon showdowns you’ll find in Spaghetti land.

Vincenzo Cascino as the banker Vermont, disagreeing with outlaw Alan in The Sheriff Won’t Shoot (1965)

Pilar Clemens as Desireee Vermont, daughter of the banker and the lover of brothers in The Sheriff Won’t Shoot (1965)

Directed by:
Jose Luis Monter, Renato Polselli

Cast:
Mickey Hargitay … Allan
Vincenzo Cascino … Banker Vermont
as Vincent Cashino
Marco Mariani … Sheriff Jim Day
as Dan Clark
Aiche Nana … Luli, saloon proprietor
Pilar Clemens … Desiree Vermont
Angel Ter … Deputy
Sancho Gracia … Sam, Allan’s henchman
Manuel Zarzo … Diego, Allan’s henchman
Solvi Stubing … Rita

Also with: Gianni Dei, Anthony Devi, German Grech, Victor Kasline, José Luis Lizalde, Manuel Zarzo, José Luis Monter

Runtime: 98 min.

aka:
Lo sceriffo che non spar
Music: Felice Di Stefa

Solvi Stubing as Rita, daughter of a murdered sheriff in The Sheriff Won’t Shoot (1965)

Aiche Nana as Luli, the saloon proprietor in cahoots with Vermont in The Sheriff Won’t Shoot (1965)

Trivia:

The second of several Spaghetti starring roles for Mickey Hargitay, the former Mr. Universe who’d been married to blonde bombshell Jayne Mansfield from 1958 to 1964 in a union that produced three children.

This marked the only Euro Western for Pilar Clemons. Aiche Nana appeared in two others, Thompson 1880 (1966) and Piluk, the Timid One (1968).

Solvi Stubing appeared in Playboy, Playmen and about 30 films. Those included three Euro Westerns. She played a bride in “Blindman” (1971) and a larger role as Peter Lee Lawrence’s “sister” in “Garringo” (1966).