IMDb > The Frisco Kid (1979)
The Frisco Kid
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Frisco Kid (1979) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
The Frisco Kid (1979) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   3,367 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Michael Elias (written by) &
Frank Shaw (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Frisco Kid on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 July 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The greatest cowboy ever to ride into the Wild West. From Poland. more
Plot:
A Polish rabbi wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco. On the... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
The Most Underrated Comedy of All Time more (44 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gene Wilder ... Avram

Harrison Ford ... Tommy
Ramon Bieri ... Mr. Jones

Val Bisoglio ... Chief Gray Cloud
George DiCenzo ... Darryl Diggs (as George Ralph DiCenzo)
Leo Fuchs ... Chief Rabbi

Penny Peyser ... Rosalie

William Smith ... Matt Diggs
Jack Somack ... Samuel Bender
Beege Barkette ... Sarah Mindl (as Beege Barkett)

Shay Duffin ... O'Leary
Walter Janovitz ... Old Amish Man (as Walter Janowitz)
Joe Kapp ... Monterano

Clyde Kusatsu ... Mr. Ping
Clifford A. Pellow ... Mr. Daniels (as Cliff Pellow)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
No Knife (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to Gene Wilder's autobiography, John Wayne was offered the part that was eventually played by Harrison Ford. The Duke loved the role and was willing to star with Wilder. However an agent tried to offer Wayne less than his usual fee and the legendary actor turned the film down. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When the native Americans are manhandling Tommy at their village, one of the Indians is clearly wearing a gold wristwatch on an expanding metal strap. See it at 1:03:12 on the Region 1 DVD. more
Quotes:
Avram: [voiceover] It says in the Torah to find thyself a teacher. This I have done. There were times, however, when I feared my teacher would find another student. more
Soundtrack:
Beautiful Dreamer more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
16 out of 18 people found the following comment useful.
The Most Underrated Comedy of All Time, 25 October 2001
10/10
Author: Eric M. Van (emvan@post.harvard.edu) from Watertown, Mass.

Of course I'd have to be crazy to call _The Frisco Kid_ the best movie ever made, but it's certainly a strong contender for the flick I love the most (an opinion shared by my parents, brothers, cousins . . .). From the premise -- a Polish rabbi in the Wild West -- you'd expect a *spoof* a la _Blazing Saddles_, but in fact this is played absolutely straight, the comedy arising 100% from the believable human situations the characters are thrust into.

Because of this, the first third of the movie is much devoted to setting up what follows, and might strike the first-time viewer as a bit slow (actually, it's subtle and as deliciously re-watchable as the rest). Patience will be rewarded, though, because once the pieces are in place, and especially once our hero meets Harrison Ford's bank-robber with a heart of gold, there's just one indelibly great scene after another.

It's important to note that this is much, much more than a comedy. It's episodic, of course, but an early story element returns unexpectedly (more than once); you think you've been watching just an entertainment and you gradually realize there's a real (and genuinely moving) *point* to all this, as is rarely seen in movies this funny. Rabbi Avram Belinsky (played, of course, with pure magic by Gene Wilder) starts off the movie as a well-meaning schlemiel, someone as ineffectual as he is nice, and ends as a mensch, as a moral force to be reckoned with. (Typical and classic moment along the way: when he's forced to explain the nature of God to a bunch of Indians, he is downright Talmudic in his wisdom -- but the Talmud was never hysterically funny!) The final, genuinely dramatic scenes raise issues about faith, friendship, and personal identity and destiny that are downright profound (at least on repeated viewings) -- without ever missing a comedic beat. Extraordinary.

This is a movie that does for faith and friendship what "Manhattan" and "Tootsie" did for romance and gender roles. Can they please get this out on DVD while my folks are still around to enjoy it?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (44 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Frisco Kid (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Avram and the non kosher chicken? yngvai
Let's TALK about Harrison Ford, in this movie... knsevy
y esta pelicula? Unborn
The dance scene in the teepee hunterjlc
A Question about the wedding scene foal
Is this the movie where...? toadanddmb
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean Enemies: A Love Story Deadly Is the Female Back to the Future Part III The Local Bad Man
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.