Review of Evil Roy Slade (1972) by Steve M — 26 Jun 2008

When the meanest outlaw in the Wild West, Evil Roy Slade (Astin), falls in love with a beautiful school teacher (Austin), he tries to change his wicked ways and she helps him with her kind, liberal heart and treatment from her psychiatrist friend (DeLuise). But is Evil Roy simply too evil to change? Will the coldhearted Rail Baron that Evil Roy has been tormenting for years (Rooney) and the egomaniacal singing sheriff Bing Bell (Shawn) even give him the time he needs to change?

"Evil Roy Slade" is quite possibly one of the funniest, screwiest westerns ever made. John Astin is hilarious from his first moment on screen, and he doesn't let up until the very last shot. There isn't a line he delivers that isn't hiliarious and perfect in its comic timing, whether he's delivering the joke or serving as the straight man so one of the excellent members of the supporting cast can provide the laugh line. And, although great talents like Mickey Rooney, Henry Gibson, Dom DeLuise and Milton Berle all appear in the film, this is John Astin's movie.

With a never-ending barrage of spot-on jokes, absurdities, sight gags, and even a little sideways social commentary, "Evil Roy Slade" is a film of a quality that belies its network television origins; it was made as the pilot for a serries that never got off the ground. It ranks up there with the great movie comedies, like "Blazing Saddles", "Monte Python and the Holy Grail", and "Duck Soup". It's one of those films that deserves to be far better known than it is. Trust me: If liked any of the movies I just listed, you'll enjoy the hell out of "Evil Roy Slade".

Evil Roy Slade.

Starring: John Astin, Mickey Rooney, Pamela Austin, Henry Gibson, Dom DeLuise, Milton Berle, Dick Shawn, and Edie Adams.

Director: Jerry Paris.