A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966)

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

Director:

Fielder Cook

Writer:

Sidney Carroll

Stars:

Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Henry Fonda	...	Meredith
Joanne Woodward	...	Mary
Jason Robards	...	Henry Drummond
Paul Ford	...	C.P. Ballinger
Charles Bickford	...	Benson Tropp
Burgess Meredith	...	Doc Scully (as Burgess Meridith)
Kevin McCarthy	...	Otto Habershaw
Robert Middleton	...	Dennis Wilcox
John Qualen	...	Jesse Buford
Jean-Michel Michenaud	...	Jackie (as Gerald Michenaud)
James Berwick	...	Sam Rhine (as James Kenny)
Allen Collins	...	Toby
Jim Boles	...	Pete
Virginia Gregg	...	Mrs. Drummond
Chester Conklin	...	Old Man in Saloon

Storyline

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?

---

Plot Keywords:

poker | gambling | texas | poker player | boy | 

---

Taglines:

All the action you can take...all the adventure you can wish for!

---

Genres:

Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1966 (France)

Also Known As:

Big Deal at Dodge City

Filming Locations:

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eden Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the big hand, the betting sequence violates standard poker etiquette. In succession, several of the players say they "call," and add after that they will raise a specific amount. Proper etiquette requires a player first to say either "call" or "raise." In the latter circumstance, the statement "raise" must be followed by a statement of the amount of the raise.

---

Goofs

Toward the end of the movie, the banjo players are playing five-string banjos which didn't exist until well after the turn of the century.

---

Quotes

Henry Drummond: My daughter, Celie, was getting married.
Jesse Buford: Celie?
Henry Drummond: That's right! When Tropp come for me, she was in the middle of getting married. And they're holding up the "love, honor and obey" part until I get back.
Dennis Wilcox: You mean you walked out in the middle of the wedding?
Henry Drummond: I did! I ain't been late for the (poker) game in sixteen years and I ain't about to start now... wedding or no wedding.

---

Connections

Referenced in Trading Partners (1984)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Big Fun for Everyone!

When I caught this one on TV, was I sorry I'd missed it during its theatrical release. The whole cast is in top form, especially Paul Ford giving one of his funniest performances. Joanne Woodward never looked lovelier while running the gamut from great distress to the wittiest of high spirits. Too bad her hubby, Paul Newman, couldn't have joined the poker players at the table where most of the action takes place. The production values are quite good but the standout is the ever-reliable David Raksin's lively score...his music for the opening title sequence and at the film's close is terrific! If you haven't seen this one yet, you're in for a treat.