The Shakiest Gun in the West

I saw this movie,by accident.It reminded me a lot,of the book,The Puppy Who Lost his Way.It was filled with well written classic comedy,that I can only see Mr. Knotts performing. The boy,being society.I think it was followed in spirit by other films further down the line.Funny Farm,and it's own references to a miss-adventures in an element that is not ones own. I give it four and a half stars on a scale of five.Two thumbs up,fine holiday fun.....

Knotts at his inept best as a bumbling dentist who is taken in at every turn by swindlers, gun runners, and a conniving lady outlaw. I liked the use of 2 regular players on "Wagon Train" as members of Knotts party. I didn't like Myron Healy being uncredited.

This story by Edmund Hartman and Frank Tashlin has certainly got an endearing quality because two comics managed to get hit movies from it. The Shakiest Gun In The West is a reworking of the Bob Hope-Jane Russell classic, The Paleface. Into Hope's shoes steps Don Knotts trembling all the way to the bank.

Knotts takes his Barney Fife character and has him graduate Philadelphia Dental College and decide to take Horace Greeley's advice and go west to seek fame and fortune.

Like Hope he gets himself tangled up with a lady bandit played by the curvaceous Barbara Rhoades. Barbara might not have the development of Jane Russell, but there are few who do. Anyway she's been promised a pardon if she'll find out who's selling guns and whiskey to the Indians.

And to get west she needs a schnook and when Bob Hope's not around, Don Knotts will certainly do. But Knotts certainly has an endearing quality to him as she finds out.

Some western veterans like Don Barry, Terry Wilson, Dub Taylor are all in this cast. This film was the farewell performance of Frank McGrath, best known as one of Hollywood's premier stunt men who turned actor and played Charlie Wooster on Wagon Train. Jackie Coogan is in this one too, playing a church deacon.

Some of the gags from The Paleface are repeated here and some might say get better with age.

Definitely a film for Barney Fife fans the world over.

Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west "to fight oral ignorance." Meanwhile stagecoach robber Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushing (Barbara Rhoades) is offered a pardon if she will track down a ring of gun smugglers.

Don Knotts fans will enjoy this one, as it fits right in line with his regular comedy style (more like "Andy Griffith" or "Frame a Figg" and less like "Private Eyes"). There is plenty of physical comedy, especially early on, and if you like a bit of slapstick, this is for you.

By today's standards, the film may be considered questionable because of its portrayal of Native Americans. I am not one to be politically correct, but did find the scenes with them to be rather dated. Not offensive, but not really positive either. But I will not dwell on this.

Definitely one of Knotts' better films, and a good deal funnier than "Mr. Limpet".

Don Knotts gets one of his most beloved film vehicles here with this amiable remake of the Bob Hope comedy "The Paleface". That master of nervous energy plays Jesse W. Heywood, a Philadelphia dentist in the 19th century who decides that he wants to ply his trade in the Old West. Instead, he gets mixed up with a former outlaw turned government agent (striking, fiery redhead Barbara Rhoades), whose mission is to expose the men selling rifles to the Comanches.

"The Shakiest Gun in the West" is a cute, if not uproarious, Western comedy. It has enough laughs, production values, and spirited performances to make it a good time. The gags (some of them recycled from "The Paleface") were never quite inspired for this viewer, but they were still worthy of some chuckles. Certainly Knotts is perfectly cast as this tenderfoot who is led to believe that he's handier in a scrap than he really is. Roles like this were his stock in trade for years. Sexy Rhoades is a very fine leading lady, and the supporting cast features a reasonable amount of familiar faces: Jackie Coogan, Don 'Red' Barry, Ruth McDevitt, Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, Carl Ballantine, Pat "Mr. Miyagi" Morita, Dub Taylor, Dick Wilson, etc.

Vic Mizzy, the regular composer for these Universal / Don Knotts comedies, comes up with appropriately goofy music, and a talented crew create a great, classic Western look for the various wacky goings-on.

Good fun for Don Knotts fans.

Seven out of 10.