SAM WHISKEY

 "SAM WHISKEY"  (1969)

MY THOUGHTS: I found this Western / Comedy to be quite entertaining, in spite of the fact that the critics at the time gave it mixed reviews. Burt Reynolds, however, did get praise for his performance, which would later help him land some of his better-known roles. The writing is very funny, and the actors do a great job delivering the material and handling the physical comedy, especially Burt Reynolds. Angie Dickenson is also very good. I had never seen her in a role quite like this one before and I thought she did a great job with it. Ossie Davis, who is the reason for it being included in this year's "Summer Under the Stars" selections was wonderful in it. Everyone's timing is very on-point throughout, and it makes for a very fun film, although not a very traditional Western.

SYNOPSIS: "Great gambler Sam Whiskey has got his hands on a heist job that's pretty outrageous, even by Wild West standards. A drop-dead-gorgeous woman wants to quietly give back the gold her husband had stolen, now that he's dead. She approaches Sam to retrieve the gold from the bottom of a river and smuggle it back into the mint. The widow's beauty, and the nice sum she promises him, leave Sam powerless to resist the preposterous proposal."

STARRING: Burt Reynolds, Clint Walker, Angie Dickinson, Ossie Davis, William Schallert, Woodrow Parfrey, Anthony James, Del Reeves, Bob Adler, Ayllene Gibbons and John Damler.

SCREENPLAY: William W. Norton

DIRECTOR: Arnold Laven