zardoz-13 "Sagebrush Troubadour" director Joseph Kane's B-movie musical western "Sheriff of Tombstone" has nothing to do with Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and the Clanton gang. Roy is a former Deputy Marshall from Dodge City who turns in his badge after things simmer down and the town settles into peaceful tranquility. Not only does Brett Starr (Roy Rogers) leave the famous Kansas town, but also an unsavory as well as unshaven hombre named Cassidy (Harry Woods of "Monkey Business") plans to pull up stakes, too. Cassidy is widely known for his use of a double-barrel shotgun. A lot of animosity exists between these two characters. "King of the Cowboys" scenarist Olive Cooper wrote this Roy Rogers saga based on "Pride of the Navy" scribe James Webb's original story. Cooper conjures up some good dialogue. Essentially, this oater concerns corrupt officials who rule Tombstone and are doing their best to ruin a harmless old lady, Granny Carson (Zeffie Tilbury of "Camille"), who has struck it rich with a mining claim. Unfortunately, Granny cannot ship bullion to pay her taxes because evil Mayor Luke Keeler (Addison Richards of "Flying Tigers") and saloon owner A.J. Slade (Hal Taliaferro of "Ramrod"), have joined forces to compel Granny into relinquishing her claim because she cannot pay those taxes. They plan to buy her property out. Granny, however, is not inclined to accommodate as readily as Keeler and Slade want. Meantime, Keeler and Slade have another conspirator, Wells Fargo Agent John Anderson (Jay Novello of "The Wonderful Country"), who masquerades as a Mexican bandit named Joe Martinez. Brett Starr arrives in Tombstone and thwarts some men who plunder a clothing store run by Granny's daughter Mary (Elyse Knox of "The Mummy's Tomb"), and Brett takes a fancy to her. He forces the men not only to pay for the dresses they have taken but also to wear them. When Keeler and Slade hear about this encounter, they leap to the conclusion that Brett is actually Cassidy. After Brett left town, he joined up with his relatives to ride to Tombstone, and his friend Judge Gabby Whittaker (George 'Gabby' Hayes of "Blue Steel") rides along with them. During the journey, our heroes have another encounter with the slippery Cassidy. At one point, Gabby plays poker with Cassidy and loots his winnings. The notorious Cassidy tries to bushwhack Gabby in the barn, but the resourceful Gabby surprises him, whirls around in time, and wounds Cassidy. Eventually, when they reach Tombstone, Gabby runs into his own relatives. After the mayor decides to hire Brett as town marshal because he believes erroneously that Brett is Cassidy, Brett learns about Granny's predicament. When Brett tries to ride shotgun on a stagecoach with bullion, he smells an ambush and has the driver reverse the stage and return to Tombstone. During the fray, Brett catches a bullet so that he must have his hand bandaged, but so to does Martinez. "Sheriff of Tombstone" is one of those rare sagebrushers where Roy is wounded. The musical numbers don't slow down the action and each is relatively minor. As usual, Harry Woods makes an excellent villain. "Sheriff of Tombstone" is an adequate shoot'em up with good dialogue and interesting characters, particularly Jay Novello in a dual role.

MartinHafer There are two main types of Roy Rogers films--the early ones (which are quite good) and the later ones (which, sad to say, are pretty limp). Why the difference? Well, the early ones are much more plot-driven and have only a bit of singing here and there. The later ones, generally, are more personality-driven and little attempt is made to make it look like the old West. Roy plays Roy--and there is so much singing that it's more like a musical variety show than a western. I frankly hate these films and look for the better early ones--like "Sheriff of Tombstone".The film begins with Roy and Gabby playing lawmen. They're leaving town because they have successfully civilized the place--bringing law and order to everyone. However, a nasty rogue is going to Tombstone ('Shotgun' Cassidy) and this galoot claims that they're making him sheriff!! Obviously something is amiss--and the pair decide they'll check out this lawless town. And so, posing as Shotgun, Roy investigates--that is, after Gabby shoots the real one (don't worry folks, he DID have it coming).As I said above, the film is very story-driven. The story, while a bit familiar, is well-acted--with nice dialog and enjoyable characters. Not a brilliant film but a very enjoyable one--and all good fun.

Michael Morrison In so many of his movies, Roy Rogers played a character named Roy Rogers. In "Sheriff of Tombstone," though, he is Brett Starr, a refreshing change and another opportunity for Roy Rogers to show he had more than one dimension.Though fans usually didn't need anything other than Roy, "Sheriff of Tombstone" also had unusually good dialogue and a good story, by James Webb (not the current U.S. Senator, although he too is a good writer), with a good screenplay by Olive Cooper.There is a remarkably good cast, with everyone's favorite sidekick, George "Gabby" Hayes, who was actually a fine actor, capable of many types of character.Harry Woods gets one of his biggest roles, and shows some dimensions too, giving one of his best performances.Jay Novello, almost completely unknown today except to us western fans, also shows a surprising ability at characterization. You really have to see this performance to believe it.Adorable Sally Payne plays a character who is both an eccentric personality and a charming singer, a great role for her and a great chance for us to see her ability.Songs, for her and for Roy, come from the great Bob Nolan as well as Sol Meyer and Peter Tinturin, neither of whom I am familiar with, no doubt my loss.Music in Roy Rogers movies is usually rather pedestrian, but the songs here are memorable.The great Joe Kane is both director and associate producer, and his touch helps make this a superb B western.Republic might not have spent a lot of money, but there is a lot of talent and effort in this excellent movie.

FightingWesterner Retiring as Sheriff of Dodge City, Roy comes to Tombstone to be with his brother, only to find he's dead and the town overcome with lawlessness. He's almost immediately mistaken for a hired gun, called upon by crooked businessmen to be the new Sheriff.The Sheriff Of Tombstone has all the things you'd expect from a Roy Rogers western, mainly some good action scenes and a few catchy songs but not much else, making this barely adequate entertainment and not one of his best adventures.Roy and especially George "Gabby" Hayes are good, as usual. I just wish this were a better vehicle.