The Shakiest Gun in the West_
"He's so bad he was scalped by a cigar store Indian!!"
Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west to become a frontier dentist. Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushing (Barbara Rhoades) is offered a pardon if she will track down a ring of gun smugglers. She tricks Haywood into a sham marriage as a disguise. Haywood inadvertently becomes the legendary "Doc the Haywood" after he guns down "Arnold the Kid".
Starring
Don Knotts, Barbara Rhoades, Jackie Coogan
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Prime Video
7 countries
G
Google Play
6 countries
Apple TV
6 countries
YouTube
4 countries
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Year context
The Shakiest Gun in the West was released 58 years ago in 1968.
Overview
Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west to become a frontier dentist. Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushing (...
The Shakiest Gun in the West is a Comedy, Family, Western film with a runtime of 1h 41m.
CAST (20)
Don Knotts
Dr. Jesse W. Heywood
Barbara Rhoades
Penelope 'Bad Penny' Cushings
Jackie Coogan
Matthew Basch
Ruth McDevitt
Mrs. Olive Heywood
Frank McGrath
Mr. Remington
Terry Wilson
Welsh
Carl Ballantine
Abel Swanson
Pat Morita
Wong
Robert Yuro
Arnold the Kid
Herb Voland
Dr. Friedlander
Fay DeWitt
Violet
Dub Taylor
Pop Cushings
Hope Summers
Celia
Dick Wilson
Black Eagle (Indian chief)
Don 'Red' Barry
Rev. Zachary Gant
Vaughn Taylor
Rev. Longbaugh
Ed Peck
Sheriff
Edward Faulkner
Marshal Sam Huggins
Arthur Space
Sheriff Tolliver
Greg Mullavey
Phelps - Dental Student
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Shakiest Gun in the West about?
Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) graduates from dental school in Philadelphia in 1870 and goes west to become a frontier dentist. Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushing (Barbara Rhoades) is offered a pardon if she will track down a ring of gun smugglers. She tricks Haywood into a sham marriage as a disguise. Haywood inadvertently becomes the legendary "Doc the Haywood" after he guns down "Arnold the Kid".
How long is The Shakiest Gun in the West?
The Shakiest Gun in the West has a runtime of 101 minutes (1h 41m).
Who stars in The Shakiest Gun in the West?
The cast of The Shakiest Gun in the West includes Don Knotts, Barbara Rhoades, Jackie Coogan, Ruth McDevitt, Frank McGrath.
What is the rating of The Shakiest Gun in the West?
The Shakiest Gun in the West has a rating of 6.3 out of 10 based on 46 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (3)
Comedy
Family
Western