The Ransom of Red Chief (TV 1998)

Two hoboes strike on a get-rich quick scheme to kidnap an overly-energetic 9 year old son of a local banker. Based on the classic story by O'Henry.

Director:

Bob Clark

Writers:

O. Henry (short story), Ed Naha (teleplay)

Stars:

Christopher Lloyd, Michael Jeter, Alan Ruck

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lloyd	...	Sam Howard
Michael Jeter	...	Bill Driscoll
Alan Ruck	...	Ambrose Dorset
Kaitlin Hopkins	...	Agnes Dorset
Brent Hinkley	...	Deputy Muldoon
Richard Riehle	...	Narrator / Sheriff 'T-Bone' Yankum
Sue Bugden	...	Miss Dupa
Richard Moll	...	Filthy McNasty
Brad Greenquist	...	Strange Pierre
Haley Joel Osment	...	Andy Dorset
Nancy Lenehan	...	Temperance Lady 1 (as Nancy Linehan Charles)
Mary Linda Phillips	...	Temperance Lady 2 (as Linda Phillips)
Nicole Kranidas	...	Temperance Lady 3
Al Mancini	...	Assayer
Robert Dickman	...	Second Town Man 1

Storyline

Two hoboes strike on a get-rich quick scheme to kidnap an overly-energetic 9 year old son of a local banker. Based on the classic story by O'Henry.

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Plot Keywords:

nickname | wagon | prank | forest | child actor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Entführung von Häuptling Rothaut

Filming Locations:

Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Did they just use the title and character names?

I realize that a short story, unless it's part of an anthology, is difficult to use as a TV or movie story without a certain amount of padding but I think there is just a bit too much padding. It's a good and fun family movie, I'll give it that, but I was hoping it would stick a bit closer to the short story. There were times I felt they'd used the title, character names, and a few of the incidents from the story and that's it.

It's best for someone who is not expecting it to be the same as the short story.

I think the 1975 version was much better and it still played rather fast and loose with the story. Being shorter it didn't have a chance to play _quite_ so fast and loose, though.

I guess I'm just disappointed that they felt they had to change so much of O. Henry's story.

I'm keeping it around for my grandson who will enjoy it but I'll also introduce him to the source story. He's almost 10 so it won't be a problem with his attention span and also will help him to realize that if you've read a jacket or cover blurb (or even seen the movie) you haven't read the story. He tends to base his book reports on blurbs.

A nice cast was assembled and they all gave good performances. Christoper Lloyd and the late Michael Jeter are very dependable and a pleasure to watch. Child actors, by their very nature, are often a bit cutesy and the boy should have been a couple of years older with a certain rough and readiness about him but I think they managed to make him a bit annoying, which is almost as good.