Cat Ballou (1965)

Written with a small amount of hindsight

As a rule, I'm sceptical about comedy Westerns, since most aren't particularly funny (Blazing Saddles is a notable exception); however, Cat Ballou seems to get the balance right by being light-hearted, rather than going for out-and-out funny.

Lee Marvin is good as both Kid Shelleen - who's by now no longer a kid - and his brother. Jane Fonda also seems well suited as Cat Ballou and looks attractive enough in the roll. The two mistrals that provide periodic narration work surprisingly well. The plot has to do with a corrupt town leader using force to buy up local land; it's fairly standard, but enjoyable enough, and the flashback presentation of the plot leading up to Cat's "hanging" is effective. The scene where Kid Shelleen dresses up in a flamboyant gunfighting outfit for his showdown with his brother, starting with his girdle, particularly amused me. Wikipedia suggests it was quickly filmed (28 days), which seems believable.