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Sidekicks (1974 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Sidekicks' is a 1974 American made-for-television comedy Western film directed by Burt Kennedy and starring Larry Hagman and Louis Gossett Jr. The film was a pilot for a proposed television show[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Television_Pilots/69-_DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1 Terrace, Vincent. 'Encyclopedia of Television Pilots: 2,470 Films Broadcast 1937-2019.' Jefferson, NC: McFarland Inc., 2020. p. 225.] as a continuation of the 1971 theatrical release 'Skin Game', with James Garner and Gossett.[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Essential_James_Garner/_wdTDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=sidekicks+larry+hagman+lou+gossett&pg=PA80&printsec=frontcover Ryan, Stephen H. and Paul J. Ryan, 'The Essential James Garner.' Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. p. 80.]
Plot
Quince and Jason (played by Larry Hagman and Louis Gossett Jr.), two grifters on the make in the Old West, are arrested by Prudy Jenkins (Blythe Danner), the zealous, rifle-wielding daughter of a small-town sheriff (Harry Morgan). The charge: They look like typical criminals. But as soon as she delivers her quarry to the sheriff, he orders her to release them. Later, though, the sheriff witnesses the two in a gunfight outside a saloon. This time, the sheriff locks them up. Then the lawman makes his first blunder. He leaves Prudy in charge of the prisoners while he goes on an errand. Sure enough, two outlaws, Sam and Ed (Gene Evans and Dick Peabody), break into the jail, tie up Prudy, and abscond with Quince and Jason, mistaking them for two suspected bank robbers.
The quartet ride out of town where they meet Sam and Ed's boss (Jack Elam). As one would never suspect, his name is Boss, and he does what most bosses do. He has a temper tantrum. He then lays into Sam and Ed for breaking the wrong criminals out of jail. Later, Prudy stumbles upon the gang's encampment. Boss has another tantrum. This time, he is so mad he decides to rob the town's bank. But the gang arrives a split second late as they witness the "right" criminals carrying out the job. Naturally Boss has another tantrum. He then organizes his gang to catch up with the bandits and their lootwhich they do. Then the sheriff and his posse wander onto the scene. In the confusion that results, the criminals are all arrested, Quince and Jason are kicked out of the county, and Prudy is saved from a fate worse than sanity.
Cast
* Larry Hagman as Quince Drew
* Louis Gossett Jr. as Jason O'Rourke
* Blythe Danner as Prudy Jenkins
* Jack Elam as Boss
* Harry Morgan as Sheriff Jenkins
* Hal Williams as Max
* Gene Evans as Sam
* Noah Beery Jr. as Tom
* Dick Peabody as Ed
* Denver Pyle as Drunk
* John Beck as Luke
* Dick Haynes as Man
* Bill Shannon as Carl (as Billy Shannon)
* Tyler McVey as Jones
References
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