A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)
Genre: Western
Duration: 95 minuten
Alternative title: Big Deal at Dodge City
Country:
United States
Directed by: Fielder Cook
Stars: Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward and Jason Robards
IMDb score:
7,3 (5.122)
Releasedate: 31 May 1966
A Big Hand for the Little Lady plot
"All the action you can take...all the adventure you can wish for!"
An otherworldly couple and a child are on their way to buy a farm. They arrive in a town near California. The rich people there are completely captivated by the game of poker. The man cannot contain himself and puts all his money and that of his family in.
Actors and actresses
Meredith
Mary
Henry Drummond
C.P. Ballinger
Benson Tropp
Doc Scully
Otto Habershaw
Dennis Wilcox
Jesse Buford
Jackie
Reviews & comments
coumi
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- 1462 messages
- 12350 votes
Worth seeing oldie, quite old, but still well worth a look. Not so much a western, but more of an entertainment film and character study about the noble card game. An unpredictable twist at the end that feels logical and credible, an example for the current generation of filmmakers on how to pleasantly surprise the viewers without being forced. Strong role from Fonda, an icon who can't always convince me when he plays a good guy, but here he is on a roll. Also funny to see him here sharing the screen with Jason Robards, two years before the two starred together again in the unforgettable classic C'era una Volta Il West.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Collins
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- 7350 messages
- 4348 votes
In the classic western, the woman usually plays a subordinate role. The role of good housewife and mother, who obeys her husband and depends on him as a protector. There are of course westerns that paint a different image of women (Johnny Guitar (1954) or the airy Cat Ballou (1965) for example), but those are the exceptions.
In A Big Hand for a Little Lady, the female lead is reserved for Joanne Woodward. She plays a faithful and obliging wife who believes in her husband and therefore meddles in a poker gamewith gruff menfolk. Good role from Woodward. She plays her role passionately. With great zest. She exudes so much élan that she makes the unfeeling men at the poker table ponder their bitter attitude and fills them with wonder, admiration and maybe even the desire to be married to her.
The poker game is central to the film. It is wonderful to observe the game and the players. Exciting. It's a game of bluff and deception. They are the same greats that the script surprisingly also has in store for the viewer.
The acting is excellent. Jason Robards in particular has a wonderful role as an oversimplified and arrogant rich man who plays the game with nerves of steel. Henry Fonda is featured prominently in the movie poster, playing an important role, but not the main role. As far as I'm concerned, that is reserved for the impressive Joanne Woodward.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Moviestar1979
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- 1671 messages
- 975 votes
Revisited after a long time.
The film was originally written for television under the title "Big Deal in Laredo." Astonishingly, the film was released in the UK under the title "Big Deal At Dodge City." This is despite the fact that a clear reference to Laredo, Texas is made in the film. Dodge City in Kansas is never mentioned. This was the last movie starring Charles Bickford and Chester Conklin. The latter appeared in more than 300 films since 1913. A Big Hand for the Little Lady and The Sting are both about scammers. The films are also connected by the actors. Joanne Woodward was married to Paul Newman for over 50 years. Director Fielder Cook liked James Berwick's performance so much that he insisted that Berwick reprise his television role of bartender Sam Rhine in the film. This despite his lack of any cinema experience. It would also end up being Berwick's only film. Other performances consisted of small pieces. Jason Robards plays Henry Drummond. In 1988 he played a character under the same name in Inherit the Wind.
The screenplay was very well written for its time. This despite the fact that the western genre was never directly for me. I'm glad I gave him another chance. This with unforgettable roles from Henry Fonda and John Qualen.
3.0 *
Translated from Dutch · View original
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