The Slowest Gun in the West (1960) / Fair Play (1972)

THE SLOWEST GUN IN THE WEST (1960): The town of Primrose, Arizona is overrun by outlaws. Every sheriff hired to protect the townsfolk is promptly murdered by the criminal population. The mayor finally turns to Fletcher Bissell III, aka "The Silver Dollar KId", a lawman so lily-livered, no gunslinger wants to ruin their reputation by shooting him. The ploy works, and peace is restored to Primrose. The crooks realize the only way to get rid of Bissell is to hire a gunman just as cowardly as he is. They find one in "Chicken" Finsterwald, who once shot an 84-year-old woman in the back. Now it's a showdown between the two slowest guns in the West...if they don't die of fright first!

In 1959, Phil Silvers and Sergeant Bilko creator Nat Hiken reunited to make four hour-long television specials sponsored by the Carling Brewing Company. After parodying Hollywood musicals with The Ballad of Louie the Louse, the pair turned their keen satirical eyes to Westerns. The Slowest Gun in the West was shot on the old Revue Studios backlot where Wagon Train and The Virginian were filmed, and featured a who's who of cowboy actors from yesteryear: Bruce Cabot, Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef, Parley Baer, Ted de Corsia, Robert J. Wilke and William Fawcett. Also appearing is Marion Ross as a sultry saloon girl, years before she played Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days (1974-1984). The biggest guest star by far is Phil Silvers' old friend Jack Benny, returning to the Western genre he sent up so well in Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). For fans of these two comedy legends, The Slowest Gun in the West is a must-see.

FAIR PLAY (1972): City slicker Teddy McGill arrives in the Western town of Fair Play looking for his uncle F.O. The naive young man thinks his uncle runs a "health spa for retired gentlemen", but in reality he owns the rowdiest saloon in town! Teddy gets more excitement than he bargained for when he's drawn into a feud between F.O. and the ornery Purvis clan, who've just bought themselves a brand-new invention called a gatling gun. By the time Teddy's visit is over, the quaint little town of Fair Play may no longer be standing...

Billed as "a Western Comedy for the family that laughs together", Fair Play stars Paul Ford, best known as Colonel Hall on Sergeant Bilko (1955-1959). As a child, co-star Phillip Alford played Jem Finch in the Academy Award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Fair Play was his last film role, and he currently is a successful businessman in Birmingham, Alabama. Fair Play is also one of the last film appearances of Richard Webb, beloved by 50s children as Captain Midnight (1954-1956). Director James A. Sullivan also made Night Fright (1967) with John Agar, and edited Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966).

• comedy