Scandalous John 1971

Scandalous John (1971)

At first, I thought that Super-star Disney actor Brian Keith was trying too hard to make sure he got his crazy portal of an aging cowboy.  But half way through ‘Scandalous John’ it dawned on me that this movie was a retelling of Don Quixote. I enjoyed it a little bit more after that realization. Scandalous John is the heroic delusional cowboy knight Don Quixote and his trusty illegal alien side kick Paco is Sancho Panza.  Scandalous John is looked after by his niece Amanda McCanless who is interested in dashing Jimmy Whittaker, the son of Barton Whittaker who wants Scandalous’ s land for the same reason all rich people in westerns want people’s lands, it will somehow make him money.

The story proceeds at a moderate pace as Paco and Scandalous had out to the golden city of Quivira with their heard of cows (one longhorn). Scandalous is always shooting off his gun at or near people. But like the A-Team he never actually hits anyone with his bullets and he never seems to run out of them. He fires at Paco thinking he is an intruder and then him and Paco fire at the imaginary intruders Scandalous thought he was firing at when he was firing at Paco. He fires at himself in the mirror shattering the mirror. And he fires at various people in a Western reenactment town like the one the Griswolds visited in Vacation. Good thing this guy only fires off his pistol. Imagine if he had something with a little more kick.

Scandalous always wears the same dungaree outfit, which makes me think he never showers. He feels free to ride his horse into stores when he has to get his supplies in town. It is in town that has a run in with the law, Sheriff Pippen played by Disney Superstar/M.A.S.H actor Harry Morgan who like the like the London bobbies does not carry a gun. He wants to deport Paco back to Mexico. It seems that this was not a controversial topic back then. SJ is also pretty good with a lasso and lassos a gang of motorcycle thugs when he believes they are pestering what he deems a damsel in distress. The damsel is none too happy he shoots up her trailer.  He also hijacks a train where he doesn’t hesitate to have people jump off, except the mariachi band playing music

The movie is amusing and average at the same time. The night time scenes while the train is moving don’t come off looking that clear as if it were actually night and another scene I can’t mention because ‘SPOILERS’ , comes across as looking fake. I feel like I should watch this again, thinking maybe I would appreciate more the 2^nd time around, but then again I have many more Disney movies to look at and review.  If your  a Disney enthusiast/completest it wouldn’t be bad to add to your collection..