Summary
In the untamed, dust-choked expanse of Beer Bottle Bend, a frontier town whose very name evokes a certain raucous abandon, order is theoretically maintained by Sheriff Larry. However, his profound witlessness is a perfect mirror to the pervasive lawlessness he purports to uphold. The town's precarious equilibrium is dramatically disrupted by the arrival of a seemingly demure figure from the East, a woman whose unassuming facade belies a formidable resolve. Her stagecoach also bears a substantial consignment: a cool $100,000 earmarked for the hapless sheriff. This influx of capital and the unexpected presence of a refined lady ignite a fervent, if disorganized, celebration amongst the denizens of Beer Bottle Bend. With a surprising blend of gentle persuasion and steely determination, the Eastern arrival first manages to reform the community's notorious 'elbow-bender,' a testament to her quiet influence. Emboldened by her example and subtle prodding, Sheriff Larry is then, quite uncharacteristically, spurred into action against the rampant criminal elements. What ensues is a frenetic, hilariously choreographed ballet of avarice as the $100,000 careens through various unscrupulous hands, a veritable hot potato of lucre. Ultimately, through a series of chaotic and ingenious maneuvers, the substantial sum returns to its initial, albeit unstated, pursuer: the 'demure thing' herself, who reveals a hidden agenda, having tracked the cash all the way from the urban labyrinth of New York. The film culminates with Sheriff Larry, ever the obtuse commentator, offering a few dismissive, yet ironically poignant, observations on the inscrutable nature of women, utterly oblivious to the masterclass in strategic cunning he has just witnessed.
Synopsis
Larry is the booby sheriff of a Western town named Beer Bottle Bend, whose lawlessness matched his witlessness. A demure little thing from the East arrives on the same stage with a consignment of $100,000 to the sheriff, and the town proceeds to celebrate. After reforming the champion "elbow-bender" of the community, the demure one inspires the sheriff to action against the lawless element. The $100,000 changes hands in rapid and humorous fashion, and finally comes into the possession of the demure thing who had followed the cash all the way from New York. Larry proceeds to make a few cursory remarks on women.
Review Excerpt
"
Step right up, fellow aficionados of cinematic history, and prepare to journey back to an era when laughter was silent yet thunderous, and the Wild West was as much a playground for pratfalls as it was for pistols. Today, we're unearthing a true, albeit often overlooked, gem from 1918: Larry Semon's uproarious Western comedy, Well, I'll Be. In a landscape dominated by the likes of Chaplin and Keaton, Semon carved out his own delightfully chaotic niche, a realm where logic was merel..."
