A Big Hand for the Little Lady

19661966
ApprovedApproved
1h 35min

Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bickford, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Official Trailer

Play trailer1:54

Comedy western in which a traveler bets more money than he can afford in a poker game, and unusual events follow.Comedy western in which a traveler bets more money than he can afford in a poker game, and unusual events follow.Comedy western in which a traveler bets more money than he can afford in a poker game, and unusual events follow.

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Videos1

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

"Big Hand For the Little Lady, A" Jason Robards, Henry Fonda 1966 Warner

Henry Fonda, Charles Bickford, Jean-Michel Michenaud, Robert Middleton, and John Qualen in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda, Charles Bickford, Jean-Michel Michenaud, Robert Middleton, and John Qualen in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda, Charles Bickford, Jean-Michel Michenaud, Robert Middleton, John Qualen, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda, Jean-Michel Michenaud, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

Awards
- 1 nomination

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A naive couple and a child arrive to the town on the way to San Antonio, Texas to buy a farm there. There is a poker game between the richest men in the region. The man cannot resist it and though he is a very bad poker player, enters the game betting all the money of his family. In the climax of the game he suffers a heart-attack. His wife then takes his place in the table. That's the only way of recovering their savings. But there is a little problem. Can anybody explain to her how to play poker? —Miguel A. Andrade <andrade@gredos.cnb.uam.es>

poker gambling conman stagecoach poker game 22 more

Taglines
- Rule of the game: you must sit in from the beginning! And it's the wildest poker game in the west!
Genre
- Western
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
Director Fielder Cook had liked James Berwick's performance so much that he insisted Berwick reprise his television role of barman Sam Rhine in this film, despite his lack of cinema experience. This was Berwick's only screen role of any note, all other appearances being bit parts.

Goofs
The songs in the final scenes, "Ma Blushin' Rosie (Ma Posie Sweet)" and "Hello, Ma Baby" (aka "Telephone Rag") were both written around 1899-1900, whereas the action in the film takes place around 1880.

Quotes
Henry Drummond: Now then, why is Celie marrying you?
Arthur McKenzie: Because she love...
Henry Drummond: [cutting him off] Because she's homely as a lemon and just as sneaky as her old lady, and every man sets foot in this house needs just one look to figure it ain't worth 40,000 acres and a soft spot for the rest of his life.
[looking at Arthur for a reaction]
Henry Drummond: Is that what you were going to say?
Arthur McKenzie: [after a thoughtful pause] Yes, sir.
Henry Drummond: Arthur, I want you to light out of that window right there... and shinny down the rain pipe and get on my horse and get the hell and gone away from us and your old man as far as you can get...
[he gives him money]
Henry Drummond: ... and don't waste any time, Arthur. There's a whole world waitin' for you out there. Good places and bad places... nice people and some not so nice. Look them all over, Arthur. Bide your time and maybe somewhere, someplace, you'll find a real woman. A good woman... Now get!
[they shake hands]

Connections
Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Henry Fonda (1978)

Soundtracks
Hello, Ma Baby
(aka "Telephone Rag") (uncredited)
Written by Ida Emerson and Joseph E. Howard
Performed by Marilyn Powell

Top review

9/10

The best card playing movie I've seen

Well, this movie certainly beats the pants off watching THE CINCINNATI KID (the only other poker movie I can think of off the top of my head). It is a very unusual film set in the old West about a family passing through town and the head of the family who gets suckered into playing a high-stakes poker game and seems on the verge of losing everything. And, at the crucial moment when he is on the edge of either winning or going bust, he becomes too ill to continue and his wife, by default, is brought in to take his place.

The movie, despite the BRIEF overview I gave, is far deeper and is a super-intelligently written film. There are many wonderful twists and turns, but if I let it out of the bag, it would ruin it for you. Just give the movie a chance--it's a buried treasure.

helpful•34

5

MartinHafer
Jul 11, 2006

Release date
- July 1, 1966 (France)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Velika prevara u Dodz Sitiju
Filming locations
- Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Production company
- Eden Productions Inc.
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
- 1h 35min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Mono
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

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Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Charles Bickford, and Joanne Woodward in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

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Is A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) known by a different name in India in English? If yes, what is it known as?

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