This film introduced me to Joan Hacket for the first time.

I watched this movie for the first time to celebrate the life of the late James Garner. This film introduced me to Joan Hackett for the first time. She seems to be a good comedy actress, capable of dong a lot of physical comedy acting. Sometimes she reminded me of Kristen Wiig, like when she was climbing up a tree with wet hair and muddy long underware. When she does serious acting, she reminds me of a young Jean Arthur.

In Support Your Local Sheriff!, she was playing the part of a clumsy and distracted women but near the end, her film character turned out to be much smarter than she really let on. (I'll try not to give out spoilers.) ;-)

This movie moved along too slow in the first half, with lack luster comedy. In the second half, the tempo picks up and the comedy gets better. When Jason McCullough (Garner) and Prudy Perkins (Hackett) have a private conversation about weather he will skip town or face his big challenge, there is some really good comedic writing in this scene that was well acted out with good comedic timing.

I'll try to find other movies with Joan Hacket. Will Penny looks like a good one. I imagine that Joan plays an all serious role in that film. But, Joan Hacket definitely appeared to be a very versatile actress. I'm sorry she was only with us until 1983, when she passed at the age of 49.