moonspinner55
On his way to San Francisco by stagecoach, unemployed George Kennedy is robbed at a rest stop (while he's urinating) by old acquaintance Frank Sinatra as Dingus Magee, who works as an "ass breaker" (he breaks in donkeys). Kennedy takes up with Anne Jackson in the next town, Yerkey's Hole; she's both the mayor and the cathouse madam, and christens Kennedy the new sheriff after a roll in the hay (he must be a helluva lover!). Dingus is arrested (while making love to an Indian squaw), but he breaks out of jail, steals a chest full of money from a stagecoach and is captured by Apaches. The Indians in this movie, speaking in broken English and using 'funny' hand signals, are used as jokesters and punchlines, while Sinatra (in dark make-up) looks shamefaced throughout. This was probably meant to be a western lark, a goofy good time, but instead it's a visual and verbal insult. NO STARS from ****
Michael_Elliott
Dirty Dingus Magee (1970) ** (out of 4) Dimwitted outlaw Dingus Magee (Frank Sinatra) runs into old friend Hoke Birdsill (George Kennedy) and robs him of $400. Hoke goes into the next town looking for a sheriff but finds the town not to have one but the Mayor (Anne Jackson), who also happens to run the local whore house, gives him the job so Hoke sets out to capture Magee but it turns out both are so stupid they keep up making new agreements to become rich.DIRTY DINGUS MAGEE was a commercial and critical flop when it was originally released and star Sinatra pretty much gave up the acting career until 1977 when he made a television movie and then tried one more theatrical comeback in 1980. This film has been beaten to death by many critics but I think they were a tad bit unfair. Yes, the film isn't nearly as funny as it should have been and yes, perhaps Sinatra could have been more interested in doing better movies at the times but looking back on this film it's a pretty innocent film that manages a few nice laughs and there's no question that there are some good supporting performances.Director Burt Kennedy directed countless Westerns in his career including some that mixed comedy in including SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF. This film manages to get a few nice laughs as both Sinatra and Kennedy's characters set up deals with each other but the two men are just so stupid that one has to cross the other but then isn't smart enough to get away. The majority of the comedy comes from small simple scenes where Sinatra gets in trouble and then has to knock out Kennedy or vice versa. There's a strong supporting group of players who also throw into the dumbness of the characters.As far as the performances go, Sinatra really isn't too bad here but it's clear he really wasn't giving it his all. He had proved that he could be a great actor so it's easy to see why many critics felt he was sleepwalking in movies like this. Kennedy, on the other hand, is extremely good and manages to show off what a good comedic actor he was long before THE NAKED GUN series. The supporting cast contains good performances from Jack Elam who gets to play John Wesley Hardin and Lois Nettleton is great as a nymphomaniac who doesn't want to admit it. Jackson is also charming in her role as the Mayor and Michele Carey is good as the Indian woman who takes care of Dingus.DIRTY DINGUS MAGEE certainly isn't a masterpiece as there are a great number of flaws. The biggest flaw is that there's really not much of a story as the same type of situation just keeps happening over and over. There's also an extremely long shoot out at the end of the picture, which just drags on and on. Still, fans of this type of film will want to check it out as there are a few nice laughs and there's no doubt that the supporting actors are quite good.
drichar3-1
Yes. That's the whole movie. Sinatra tries (sometimes unsuccessfully) to have sexual relations with several Native American women. Meanwhile, the sheriff of a town full of prostitutes chases him around in search of buried treasure.Based on a true story.It has some funny lines, and there is slapstick to boot. Not a bad film if you really have nothing better to do with your time, but I wouldn't have paid money to see it when it premiered back in 1922 (even if it did only cost a half-penny for talkie). OK, seriously, this movie isn't that old, nor is it that funny. If you like westerns and Frank Sinatra, then maybe this film is for you.
ormccullough
It has been a long time since I watched the movie (at least 5 years) I thought it was quite good. Fun to watch. The movie was full of action and was amazing how it was built around a derby hat. Sure seemed that who had the derby, was in for nothing but trouble. The list of actors was quite amazing as it was full of big time actors. I would love to see it again. I am hoping my brother has the movie still. He is the one who had it to begin with. I liked the movie a lot more than my wife did. She thought it was silly. I found it caused me to laugh all threw it. It is sure a movie worth watching again.I sure do recommend that you see this movie. In my opinion, it is a good movie.