''The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw'' is a 1958

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent cinema actor George Walsh. He wa ...

, starring

Kenneth More Kenneth Gilbert More (20 September 1914 – 12 July 1982) was an English actor. Initially achieving fame in the comedy ''Genevieve (film), Genevieve'' (1953), he appeared in many roles as a carefree, happy-go-lucky gent. Films from this period ...

and

Jayne Mansfield Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer; April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) was an American actress, ''Playboy'' Playmate, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was known for her numerous publicity stunts and open personal life. He ...

. Mansfield's singing voice is dubbed by

Connie Francis Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero ( ; born December 12, 1937), known as Connie Francis, is a retired American Pop music, pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. She is estimated to have sold more th ...

. It was one of the first Westerns to be shot in Spain.

Plot

Jonathan Tibbs, son of a family of English gunsmiths, has no interest in the family business and prefers inventing gadgets, in particular a steam-powered

horseless carriage Horseless carriage is an early name for the motor car or automobile. Prior to the invention of the motor car, carriages were usually pulled by animals, typically horses. The term can be compared to other transitional terms, such as wireless p ...

. Threatened with disinheritance if he does not report for work, he discovers that the company is not doing very well, and concludes that someone must expand their sales. He reads in his newspaper about the wide use of guns in the

American West The Western United States (also called the American West, the Western States, the Far West, the Western territories, and the West) is census regions United States Census Bureau As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the mea ...

of the 1880s and decides to go there himself to sell

firearms A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions). The first firearms originated ...

to the locals. He ends up at the small lawless town of Fractured Jaw and inadvertently acquires a reputation for quickness on the draw, due to his wrist-mounted

Derringer A derringer or deringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver, semi-automatic pistol, nor machine pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepp ...

style weapon. He is innocently drawn into a range war between the "Box T" and "Lazy S" cattle outfits, both of whom claim sole water rights and, when he proves able to stand up to their hired gunmen, is appointed sheriff. He endeavours to clean up the town using what skills he has and by multilateral diplomacy. He attracts the support of Miss Kate, a blonde bombshell hotel owner, who helps him to fight off the hired guns of both cattle ranches, who all want him dead. Earning the respect of the local Indian tribe, he becomes a blood brother of theirs, under the name of 'Fleet Iron Hat'. When he and Kate are besieged by the gunmen of both outfits, they come to his rescue and help to arrest the men. The two ranch owners eventually offer a deal to maintain the peace and share the water rights. With relative peace restored, Jonathan decides to remain in Fractured Jaw, becomes an American citizen and marries Kate.

Cast

as Jonathan Tibbs *

as Kate *

Henry Hull Henry Watterson Hull (October 3, 1890 – March 8, 1977) was an American character actor who played the lead in Universal Pictures's ''Werewolf of London'' (1935). For most of his career, he was a lead actor on stage and a character actor on scr ...

as Major Masters * Bruce Cabot as Jack * Ronald Squire as Toynbee, Uncle Lucius' Solicitor * William Campbell as Keeno * Sid James as The Drunk * Reed De Rouen as Clayborne * Charles Irwin as Luke * Donald Stewart as The Drummer * Clancy Cooper as The Barber * Gordon Tanner as Bud Wilkins * Robert Morley as Uncle Lucius * David Horne as James, Uncle Lucius' Butler * Eynon Evans as Manager of Tibbs & Co. * Chief Jonas Applegarth as Running Deer * Deputy Chief Joe Buffalo as Red Wolf *

Larry Taylor Samuel Lawrence Taylor (June 26, 1942 – August 19, 2019) was an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of the blues rock band Canned Heat. Before joining Canned Heat, he had been a session musician, session bassist for T ...

as Gun Guard

Production

The film was based on a short story by Jacob Hays published in the Canadian magazine ''

Maclean's ''Maclean's'' is a Canadian magazine founded in 1905 which reports on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, trends and current events. Its founder, publisher John Bayne Maclean, established the magazine to provide a uniquely Canadian ...

'' in June 1954. Prior to publication, the film rights were bought by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

in 1954 as a possible vehicle for Clifton Webb and

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

. That film was never made. In March 1957, English producer Daniel Angel signed a deal with Fox to make at least three films in England. The first one would be ''Sheriff of Fractured Jaw'' to star

. More had become popular in films such as ''

Genevieve Genevieve (; ; also called ''Genovefa'' and ''Genofeva''; 419/422 AD – 502/512 AD) was a consecrated virgin, and is one of the two patron saints of Paris in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church. Her feast day is on 3 January. Rec ...

'' (1953) and ''

The Admirable Crichton ''The Admirable Crichton'' is a comic stage play written in 1902 by J. M. Barrie. Origins Barrie took the title from the sobriquet of a fellow Scotland, Scot, the polymath James Crichton, a 16th-century genius and athlete. The epigram-loving E ...

'' (1957). More, who had co-starred with American Betsy Drake in his previous movie, said, "I feel like I'm taking first steps towards Hollywood". Eight years previously, More had unsuccessfully auditioned for a role in ''Captain Horatio Hornblower'' directed by Walsh. The female lead was

. Mansfield had been discovered playing in the Broadway comedy ''

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? ''Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?'' is a 1957 American satire (film and television), satirical comedy film starring Jayne Mansfield and Tony Randall, with Betsy Drake, Joan Blondell, John Williams (actor), John Williams, Henry Jones (actor), Hen ...

'' in 1955, and she was signed to an exclusive contract with Fox in 1956 at a $2500-a-week salary. The studio intended to mold her as a successor to the temperamental

, and cast her in Monroe-type roles in ''

The Girl Can't Help It ''The Girl Can't Help It'' is a 1956 American musical comedy film starring Jayne Mansfield in the lead role, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London. The picture was produced and directed by Frank Tashlin, with a screenpla ...

'' (1956) and a 1957 film adaptation of her Broadway triumph. She was signed on the film in early 1958, not long after marrying her second husband, muscleman

Mickey Hargitay Miklós Károly "Mickey" Hargitay (January 6, 1926 – September 14, 2006) was a Hungarian-American actor and bodybuilder. Born in Budapest, Hargitay moved to the United States in 1947 and eventually became an American citizen. He was married ...

Shooting

''The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw'' started filming at

Pinewood Studios Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London. The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to t ...

in England, shooting the interiors and the prologue, which is set in London. The studio's massive inventory of sets, carriages, and period props made setting the film in the mid-1800s American West easily possible. Angel said, "Kenneth More and Jayne Mansfield were a good team." Then, the production moved to a remote location in the Spanish province of

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...

, the first time a Western film was made in the country. According to ''Variety'', the Spanish section of the film only cost $200,000, including a Western village and Indian camp built twenty miles from Madrid. Walsh called on several actors he had previously worked with to fill out the cast:

and Bruce Cabot. During production, Mansfield became pregnant with her second child and often missed filming days, delaying production, and upsetting Fox executives. The film was completed on time and on budget, however. It was released in the United Kingdom in December 1958, but it was not released in the United States until March 14, 1959. It was the first of a three-picture deal between More and Angel and 20th. More earned 5% of the profits.

Reception

''The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw'' received mixed reviews at the time of its release. It was considerably better received, both critically and financially, in England than in America. American critics gave negative reviews to Mansfield's musical performances in the film, claiming her voice was noticeably dubbed. In fact, her voice was dubbed by singer Connie Francis. ''Variety'' said it was "not to be missed", adding, "Who ever greenlighted the starring combo of Jayne Mansfield and Kenneth More in 'The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw' has done themselves and filmgoers a good turn. These two effervescent personalities merge like bacon and eggs, and the result is a wave of yocks." ''Filmink'' said that More was "superbly cast as a British gun salesman and effectively teamed (if only via sheer contrast) with Jayne Mansfield."

Box office

The film was the tenth most-popular movie at the British box office in 1958. According to ''Kinematograph Weekly'', the film performed "better than average" at the British box office in 1959. "It'll be a gold mine for us," said More, who had a percentage of the profits. It made $1,924,875 in American theaters and $2,485,125 elsewhere. More and Angel were meant to follow the film with ''Have Monocle Will Travel'' based on the adventures of an ex-British colonel but that film was not made.

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw, The 1958 films 1950s English-language films 1950s Western (genre) comedy films 1950s historical comedy films CinemaScope films British Western (genre) comedy films British historical comedy films Films directed by Raoul Walsh Films shot at Pinewood Studios 20th Century Fox films Steampunk films Films shot in Spain Films shot in Madrid Films based on short fiction 1958 comedy films 1950s British films English-language Western (genre) comedy films Films scored by Robert Farnon English-language historical comedy films