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?

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Plot Keywords:

poker | gambling | texas | poker player | boy | 

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Taglines:

Rule of the game: you must sit in from the beginning! And it's the wildest poker game in the west!

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Genres:

Western

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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

Jason Robards plays a character named Henry Drummond. In 1988 he would play a character with the same name in the completely unrelated TV movie version of Inherit the Wind (1960).

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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.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in What's My Line?: Two Mystery Guests: Broadway producer David Merrick; actor Henry Fonda and son Peter Fonda (Henry's 4th appearance as mystery guest) (1966)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

This top-notch comedy western is both entertaining and unforgettable. Its stellar cast of veteran American actors present a magnificent example of ensemble acting. Burgess Meredith in particular turns in a virtuoso performance. Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward and Jason Robards anchor the film with delightful portrayals.

The surprise plot twist at the end does jar the emotions a little, but is in keeping with the fun and mischievous spirit of the film. Definitely more stylish and funnier than "The Sting". Action, adventure, comedy, suspense ----- this well-crafted tale has it all. It deserves the term "classic".