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 | conman | stagecoach | poker game | 

---

Taglines:

Don't tip the little lady's hand or your friends will hate you!

---

Genres:

Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The chairs in the gambling area that they sit in are modern welded frame restaurant chairs.

---

Goofs

After Meredith gives his poker hand to Mary, she exposes the bottom card in her hand just before she closes the door to the card room. The card exposed is the ten of diamonds. Later, when she reveals her hand to C.P. Ballinger, the banker, all five of the cards in her hand can be seen, none of which is the ten of diamonds.

---

Quotes

Dennis Wilcox: Now look, mister, the first rule of the game of poker, whether you're playing eastern or western rules, or the kind they play at the North Pole, is put up or shut up!

---

Connections

Referenced in Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies (1982)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

what a surprise!!!!!

Never heard of this wonderful movie till American Movie Classics (bless 'em) showed it recently. What a cast!! Jason Robards, Charles Bickford, Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda, Paul Ford, and Burgess Meredith - how could a movie with such a blockbuster array have received such little attention? (This was the seemingly indestructible Bickford's very last movie appearance, and he looks as robustly granitic here as he did 30 years prior.) Everyone involved puts in fine work; Meredith especially shines as the catankerous yet wistful old doctor. The production values are extremely high; the movie is great-looking, although, truth to tell, the director's background as primarily a television director does show through just a bit. However this entertaining suspense comedy does keep one involved, though I must admit I saw the surprise ending coming. Don't miss this overlooked little gem.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1966 (France)

Also Known As:

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

Filming Locations:

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eden Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1