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As Good As It Gets

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Copyright 21 May 1953 by Ken Murray Productions. Released through United Artists. No New York opening. U.S. release: 26 June 1953. U.K. release on the lower half of a double bill: February 1954. Australian release: 13 October 1955 (sic). Sydney opening as a support at the Palace. 6,372 feet. 71 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A marshal (disguised as a medicine man) assisted by his singing-and-dancing daughter, tracks down an outlaw.NOTES: Hoot Gibson's first feature film since Trigger Law (1944). He made only two more feature film appearances, The Horse Soldiers and Ocean's 11 (both 1960). Counting short subjects, Gibson appeared in at least 211 movies! Johnny Mack Brown's fourth last film. The Bounty Killer, Requiem for a Gunfighter (both 1965) and Apache Uprising (1966) completed his career.COMMENT: A very curious film with flashbacks within flashbacks and even a sequence from one of Gibson's own rarely-seen silents. True, there are some marvelous action scenes, many composed of glorious if obvious stock footage, but others certainly appear to have been especially staged for this picture. But then again, some of the action footage is terrible stuff, particularly a night ride against an old codger's shack. And as for the dialogue! All the old familiar clichés ride again. And the acting! Miss Anders displays little talent, either as singer or actress. She evidently hails from the small hive of nonentities engaged in American TV. Still, she does a lot of her own stunt work and is rather fetching to look at. All in all, the film is worth seeing, but be prepared for a barrel or two of disappointments.OTHER VIEWS: An indifferently constructed and poorly written western, which loses much of its effect by arousing our interest in one particular bad man, but then saving the kill for a new and uninteresting villain. - Monthly Film Bulletin.

I have found this movie to be one of the most entertaining westerns I have ever seen. It is funny even when it is not trying to be. An all star cast, last of the B westerns and it is, in a way, a parody of High Noon with the clocks and Tex singing about sorry starry midnight. The poker game is brilliant ! Every western theme is here except for a mining scene. Talk about flash-backs. Try to figure where you are at any time during the movie. The dance scene with Laurie and Frenchie is something I have never seen before or since. The theme song by Tex would be considered politically incorrect now days. The dual identity of Laurie is over the top. How could one not like this jewel ?

This is the story of the motherless daughter of an undercover marshall(Hoot Gibson) operating a medicine show as a front. At night the girl secretly dons a black outfit, and, as "El Coyote" fights the bad guys. Of course, Daddy has no idea, and once they're vanquished she's quite eager to marry her boyfriend and be a full fledged girl again.Though it's silly and corny in spots, the movie has good action scenes and some serious violence. This film is not as juvenile as the title might suggest. Both good and bad people die, and the Western atmosphere is not unrealistic. Laurie Anders "the daughter" is extremely attractive, both in looks and manner, (one of my earliest crushes in fact) and most of the other performances are quite good. However, producer Ken Murray's attempts at comedy (in the part of a gambler) fall flat for the most part. Although not overtly satirical, some of the scenes are played with tongue slightly in cheek, usually in an effective manner.Hardly great cinema but very entertaining, both for young and old, with a good ballad style running theme song. Well worth your time.