What Is Support Your Local Gunfighter About?
The premise of Support Your Local Gunfighter in 330 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the restless dust of a Colorado mining town, two powerful outfits battle for control of a hidden fortune, their rivalry echoing through every street and shuttered saloon. The town itself is a character—a skillet‑hot blend of grit and promise where the clang of pickaxes competes with the low‑rumble of distant dynamite, and the law is as thin as the desert air. It is a place where legend and desperation swirl together, creating a stage that feels simultaneously dangerous and oddly comic.
Enter Latigo Smith, a smooth‑talking gambler and con artist who drifts onto the scene with nothing but a quick smile and a talent for reading people. He’s a man who lives by luck, always one step ahead of trouble, yet his restless charm draws as much curiosity as it does distrust. As the train lets him slip away, he steps into a town that seems tailor‑made for his brand of clever deceit, where every handshake could be a gamble and every grin might hide a scheme.
The town’s two dominant forces—led by the iron‑fisted Taylor Barton and the equally determined Colonel Ames—are locked in a ferocious contest for a rumored mother lode. Their rivalry has turned the streets into a chessboard, each side desperate for any advantage. When locals begin to whisper that Latigo bears the mark of the notorious gunslinger Swifty Morgan, both companies see an opportunity: hire the supposed legend, tip the balance, and finally drive the other out. The misunderstanding hangs in the air like a loaded cartridge, promising chaos and profit in equal measure.
Caught between the alluring promise of easy gold and his instinct to stay out of the lawless fray, Latigo must decide whether to ride the wave of mistaken identity or walk away from the brewing storm. The town watches, the rivals wait, and the desert wind carries an unspoken question—will the con artist become the very hero nobody expected, or will he gamble his way out before the dust settles?
What Happens in Support Your Local Gunfighter?
The complete story of Support Your Local Gunfighter, from the first scene to the last, in 402 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 9 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Latigo Smith, a gambler and con artist, travels by train through frontier Colorado with the wealthy Goldie. Goldie yearns to marry him, a fate he wants to dodge, so he quietly tips the train’s headwaiter to help him disembark without drawing attention from her. He hops off at Purgatory, a rough mining town where danger and opportunity sit side by side.
In this unsettled town, two mining companies—led by the bitter rivals Taylor Barton and Colonel Ames—are locked in a race to locate a buried mother lode, with periodic dynamite blasts rattling the streets and shaking foundations. Latigo visits the town doctor, Doc Schultz, to confess an embarrassing problem: a large tattoo of Goldie carved on his chest. His greatest weakness remains his compulsive romance with luck and money, a roulette addiction that soon leaves him penniless.
Seeking companionship and escape, Latigo woos Miss Jenny, the sharp-witted saloon keeper, while his schemes take a turn when he’s mistaken for the infamous gunslinger Swifty Morgan. Seizing the moment, Latigo persuades the amiable ne’er-do-well Jug May to impersonate Swifty, hoping to stir up the town’s fortune in one bold bluff. The plan quickly broadens when Latigo catches the eye of Patience Barton, the hot-tempered daughter of Taylor, who longs to escape frontier life and attend “Miss Hunter’s College on the Hudson River” in New York City.
As tensions flare, Ames dispatches a telegram to the real Swifty Morgan, triggering a dramatic showdown. Swifty arrives in town and immediately challenges Jug to a gunfight, but Latigo—now atop a donkey loaded with dynamite crates—has his own trick ready. The confrontation spirals into chaos when the donkey bolts into the Bartons’ saloon; a massive explosion rips through the building, unexpectedly uncovering the mother lode and, in the blast, removing Latigo’s tattoo while leaving him intact.
With the town’s fortunes turned, Latigo experiences a strange, hard-won victory at the roulette wheel, betting $10,000 of the Bartons’ money on his lucky number, 23, and winning big as the train’s wheels roll toward the future. As Jug narrates the outcomes from the train to Denver, Patience’s grand plan doesn’t come to pass, but her seven sisters do find their way; Taylor’s life gets a new direction as he settles and marries Abigail; the Colonel’s grip on power slips away; and Swifty Morgan continues to chase a rough-and-tumble legend, while Jug himself leaves the frontier for new fame in Italian Westerns.
Support Your Local Gunfighter Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Latigo flees the train at Purgatory” to “Endgame outcomes for the key players”. 13 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Latigo flees the train at Purgatory
Latigo slips away from Goldie's grasp by tipping the headwaiter to help him depart without her noticing. He sneaks off the train at Purgatory, a rough mining town in frontier Colorado. This escape marks the start of his scramble for fortune and freedom from Goldie's hold.
Where:Purgatory
- 2
Rival mining interests surface
Latigo soon learns that two mining companies, run by bitter rivals Taylor Barton and Colonel Ames, are locked in a race to locate a legendary mother lode nearby. Dynamite blasts periodically shake the town and threaten to blow it apart. The tense feud hints that fortune—and danger—are both within reach for the right con artist.
Where:Purgatory
- 3
Tattoo secret revealed
Latigo visits the town doctor to treat a personal embarrassment, only to have the physician reveal a shocking secret hidden on his chest. The large tattoo of Goldie exposes his attachment to her. The moment underscores his vulnerability and foreshadows the trouble to come.
Where:Purgatory (doctor's office)
- 4
Roulette meltdown
Latigo's addiction to roulette erupts as he wagers his way into ruin on his 'lucky' number 23. He loses all his money at the table, leaving him penniless and desperate. The loss pushes him toward new schemes to claw back his fortune.
Where:Saloon
- 5
Latigo courts Miss Jenny
With no money to spare, Latigo turns his charm toward Miss Jenny, the saloon keeper, to secure shelter and influence in town. Their budding relationship provides him a new social footing as he navigates local schemes. The romance is tense because his debts loom behind every gesture.
Where:Miss Jenny's Saloon
- 6
Latigo and Jug impersonation
Latigo, spurred by the Swifty Morgan misidentification, persuades Jug May to impersonate the infamous gunslinger. They concoct a ruse to gain the town's attention and to complicate the real Swifty's path. The ruse entangles both men in a web of bluff and danger.
Where:Purgatory
- 7
Patience notices Latigo
Latigo attracts Patience Barton, 'The Sidewinder', who longs to escape frontier life and attend Miss Hunter's College in New York. Her interest in him complicates the Bartons' feud and sends him deeper into town politics.
Where:Barton's residence / town
- 8
Ames sends for Swifty
When Latigo and Jug back the Bartons in the dispute, Colonel Ames dispatches a telegram to Swifty Morgan informing him of the deception. The message accelerates Swifty's planned arrival and the forthcoming showdown.
Where:Purgatory
- 9
Swifty arrives and the gunfight begins
Swifty Morgan arrives and immediately challenges Jug to a gunfight. Latigo shows up atop a donkey loaded with dynamite, turning the confrontation into a dangerous spectacle. Swifty underestimates the setup, is startled by the blast, and fires accidentally.
Where:Street near the Bartons' saloon
- 10
Explosion reveals the mother lode
The mine blast rocks the town as the donkey bolts toward the Bartons' saloon. The explosion uncovers the mother lode and rips away Latigo's tattoo, leaving him shaken but intact. The upheaval also shifts the balance of power in the town.
Where:Bartons' saloon
Show the other 4 events of Support Your Local Gunfighter Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Latigo wins big at roulette
Latigo bets $10,000 of the Bartons' money on the number 23 and wins big at the roulette table. The windfall clears his debts and marks a turning point in his fortunes. The victory also cements his reputation as someone who can tilt fate to his favor.
Where:Roulette table
- 12
Train to Denver and marriage plan
On the back of a train toward Denver, Latigo and Patience set off to marry, signaling a potential new life together. Jug narrates their fate from the train, hinting at what lies ahead.
Where:Train to Denver
- 13
Patience's daughters attend Miss Hunter's College
Patience never goes to Miss Hunter's College herself, but her seven daughters do attend, shaping a more educated future for the family in New York. The education of the girls contrasts with the frontier chaos they've left behind. The family's fortunes continue to hinge on the choices of Latigo and Patience.
Where:New York (Miss Hunter's College)
- 14
Endgame outcomes for the key players
Taylor Barton has his life on track: his flat is fixed and he marries Miss Abigail. The Colonel Ames goes broke as the schemes collapse, and Swifty Morgan remains stubbornly attached to his boots, a running joke as the town recalibrates. Jug May goes on to become a big star in Italian Westerns.
Who Are the Main Characters in Support Your Local Gunfighter?
9 characters, among them Latigo Smith (James Garner), Patience Barton (Suzanne Pleshette) and Jenny (Joan Blondell): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Latigo Smith (James Garner)
Played by James Garner
A gambler and con man traveling with Goldie, Latigo flees his past and improvises his way through the town. He relies on charm and wit, but carries a secret tattoo of Goldie on his chest that reveals a vulnerability. His roulette habit drives much of the plot and his survival depends on clever luck and clever talk.
- 🎭 Cunning
- 💰 Gambler
- 🪪 Tattoo
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Patience Barton (Suzanne Pleshette)
Played by Suzanne Pleshette
The hot-tempered daughter of Taylor who longs to attend Miss Hunter's College in New York. She wants to escape frontier life and pursues refinement and status, even as she is drawn to Latigo. Her ambitions and pride complicate loyalties in the town.
- 🎯 Determined
- 🗽 Social climber
- 💘 Romance
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Jenny (Joan Blondell)
Played by Joan Blondell
A witty saloon keeper who becomes entangled with Latigo. She uses her charm and street sense to navigate the town's shifting alliances. Jenny adds a sharp, comic counterpoint to the main romance and schemes.
- 🎭 Charismatic
- 😂 Comic relief
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Swifty Morgan (Chuck Connors)
Played by Chuck Connors
The infamous gunslinger whose arrival heightens the town's danger. Latigo impersonates him to gain leverage, and Swifty's presence creates a tense duel of identities and bravado. He embodies the wild gunfighter myth of the frontier.
- 🤠 Gunslinger
- ⚔️ Rival
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Jug May (Jack Elam)
Played by Jack Elam
A genial yet unreliable co-conspirator who agrees to impersonate Swifty Morgan. His willingness to play along drives the deception and adds unpredictable humor. Jug is a lovable rogue whose actions propel the plot toward the explosive climax.
- 🤠 Impersonator
- 😂 Comic relief
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Taylor Barton (Harry Morgan)
Played by Harry Morgan
The rich and bitter mining owner who leads one of the two rival companies. He desires control and status and clashes with Ames over the mine's future. His pride and wealth fuel the town's power struggle.
- 💼 Wealthy
- 🥊 Rival
- 🏗️ Industrialist
- CA
Colonel Ames (John Dehner)
Played by John Dehner
Head of the rival mining outfit, who schemes against the Barton interests. He plays a calculating game, coordinating with Swifty Morgan and leveraging the town's tensions to his advantage. His influence drives the mining conflict forward.
- 💼 Industrialist
- ⚔️ Rival
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Goldie (Marie Windsor)
Played by Marie Windsor
A rich and powerful woman who wants to marry Latigo to escape frontier life and live in refinement. She wields influence with money and wit, becoming the object of Latigo's plot as well as a central romantic complication. Her presence reshapes Latigo's plans and loyalties.
- 💎 Wealth
- 💘 Romance
-
Abigail Barton (Ellen Corby)
Played by Ellen Corby
Taylor's eventual wife, a figure who emerges in the town's social web as the Bartons' circle evolves. Her character hints at the town's domestic and social transitions as fortunes shift. Abigail represents a different path out of frontier life for those who seek stability.
- 💍 Romantic interest
- 🏡 Social anchor
Where and When Is Support Your Local Gunfighter Set?
Support Your Local Gunfighter is set in Colorado, Purgatory and Denver (Late 19th century). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 19th century
The events unfold in the late 19th century American West, a period marked by rapid mining-driven growth and frontier justice. Rail travel and boom towns define the era, where fortunes rise and fall with the next mining claim. The setting reflects a world of quick deals, big dreams, and rough living.
Where
Colorado, Purgatory, Denver
Purgatory is a rough mining town in frontier-era Colorado where two rival mining outfits vie for a rumored mother lode. The town is constantly shaken by dynamite blasts, giving it a volatile atmosphere of danger and opportunism. Saloons, trains, and dusty streets create a backdrop that blends humor with the harsh realities of frontier life.
- 🏜️ Frontier town
- 🎭 Western comedy
- 💎 Gold mining
What Are the Themes of Support Your Local Gunfighter?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Gambling and Frontier Conflict.
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01
Identity
Identity and deception drive the plot as Latigo Smith pretends to be the infamous Swifty Morgan to manipulate rivals. Jug May is coaxed into masquerading as Swifty, creating confusion and risk. The revelations around who is who test loyalties and the price of wearing a false face.
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02
Gambling
Gambling governs many decisions, with Latigo's compulsive roulette habit and his fixation on the number 23. His losses push him toward risky schemes and shifting alliances. Luck and risk intertwine with romance and ambition as the wheel turns, culminating in an ironic, comedic payoff.
-
03
Frontier Conflict
Two mining rivals, Taylor Barton and Colonel Ames, battle over a rumored mother lode, turning the town into a pressure cooker of schemes and aggression. Dynamite blasts disrupt everyday life and intensify the fight for wealth. The clash of greed and power shapes the town's fate and ultimately brings an extraordinary discovery.
What Kind of Film Is Support Your Local Gunfighter?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced, witty comedy that blends Western tropes with chaotic slapstick, following a charming con man as he navigates a town's feuds with a playful and mischievous energy.
- witty
- satirical
- playful
- chaotic
- mischievous
- escapist
- con artist
- mistaken identity
- frontier town
- mining rivalry
Content notes: bar fight, dynamite explosion.
Quiz
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