Dirty Dingus Magee

Dingus, a man with no morals or conscience, steals anything of value that he can get his hands on. When he robs an acquaintance, a reward is put on his head and his troubles begin. Cornball humor all the way, but a funny picture nonetheless. George Kennedy was hilarious as the "not overly intelligent" sheriff whose brain was muddled by all the conks to the noggin he received.

Yes. That's the whole movie. Sinatra tries (sometimes unsuccessfully) to have sexual relations with several Native American women. Meanwhile, the sheriff of a town full of prostitutes chases him around in search of buried treasure.

Based on a true story.

It has some funny lines, and there is slapstick to boot. Not a bad film if you really have nothing better to do with your time, but I wouldn't have paid money to see it when it premiered back in 1922 (even if it did only cost a half-penny for talkie). OK, seriously, this movie isn't that old, nor is it that funny. If you like westerns and Frank Sinatra, then maybe this film is for you.

Dingus Magee (Frank Sinatra) and Hoke Birdsill (George Kennedy) are rivals in this light-hearted western. Yerkey's Hole is a lawless town where brothel madam Belle Nops (Anne Jackson) is the mayor. She appoints Birdsill the new Sheriff and he arrests wanted criminal Magee. The reward is only $10.

It's a quirky comedy of the old western genre. I don't think the humor works. It definitely isn't working that hard. I barely smirked. Sinatra is well-known for being lackadaisical in his acting during this time. I can't dispute that for this movie. The role needs an energetic comedian. He may be better as Birdsill.

Burt Kennedy who gave us so many good westerns spoofs comes up a wee bit short of good with Dirty Dingus Magee. Not that it doesn't have a few funny moments, but the cast just doesn't quite get with the spirit of the things the way they did in such films as The Rounders and Support Your Local Sheriff.

For one thing Frank Sinatra looks like he's waiting for Dino and Sammy to come on the scene. Old Blue Eyes in the meanwhile is just going through the motions of a performance. Which consists of him acting just like a human version of the Road Runner.

Wile E. Coyote in this case is George Kennedy who never played such a goofy role on screen before or since. Sinatra spends the entire 91 minutes of Dirty Dingus Magee consistently making a fool out of poor Kennedy.

Best performances in the film belong to the women, to Anne Jackson for one of the brassiest bordello madams ever done on screen and to Lois Nettleton as the nymphomaniac school teacher, Prudence Frost. Yes, the name is part of the gag.

But when that gag becomes the best one in the film, you've got a problem.

Don't expect to be sitting on the edge of your seat, but do expect to be entertained. Its a comedy and a spoof of westerns. Comparing this movie to the rounders or support your local sheriff was a huge stretch...heck comparing Support your local sheriff to the rounders is silly too. I would give this movie about what it is rated at...around a 6. The actors are all familiar and since it was made in 1970 it is a piece of nostalgia too. Heck, Jack Elam is in it, so its a true western. Anna is smoking hot (why else would she have been in Elvis movies) Its a silly style western comedy, it is what it is.If it were not for the constant conniving by Sanatra and Kennedy..there really would be less of a plot.