Wild and wacky comedy, almost in the old-time vein of anarchic, surreal 1930s comedy. Owing to its tv-movie status, and the time-period it was made, it probably never really got the credit it deserved. But it’s a beautifully insane gem. The only real flaw I recall is that it went on just a little bit too long. You can’t maintain ‘wacky’ for too long. If its running time was more like 75 minutes, it would have really perfect.
In all honesty, I’ve actually long prefered “Evil Roy Slade” to “Blazing Saddles.” And “Slade” was even first.
Evil Roy Slade is actually two hour long TV pilots edited together. The character of ERS originated in a 1967 sitcom pilot titled “Sheriff Who?”. Its premise was a new sheriff is hired every week, and then driven out of town by the resident bad man, ERS (Astin). The sheriff in the pilot, “The fastest interior decorator in the west”, is played by guest star Dick Shawn. I’ve never seen it, and as far as I know it has not been seen publicly since it was aired in September 1967.
Apparently at least one other “Sheriff Who?” episode was shot, as a photo exists of Astin in character with Jerry Lewis (presumably that episode’s guest sheriff).
Evil Roy Slade is actually two hour long TV pilots edited together. The character of ERS originated in a 1967 sitcom pilot titled “Sheriff Who?”. Its premise was a new sheriff is hired every week, and then driven out of town by the resident bad man, ERS (Astin). The sheriff in the pilot, “The fastest interior decorator in the west”, is played by guest star Dick Shawn. I’ve never seen it, and as far as I know it has not been seen publicly since it was aired in September 1967.
Apparently at least one other “Sheriff Who?” episode was shot, as a photo exists of Astin in character with Jerry Lewis (presumably that episode’s guest sheriff).
I also feel it was just a little too long. To be honest, I thought it started to weaken a bit when Dick Shawn’s character (Marshall Bell) was brought in. Shawn was a talented actor, but I just didn’t find his character as funny as most of the others in the movie.
Probably my favorite line in the movie was the bit where Astin browbeats his accountant about “Getting a full hat”. It’s so unexpected and out there, but at the same time so earnest, I crack up every single time.