The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976)

A female hustler is chasing after rich men, but becomes repeatedly mixed up with a suave con man and card shark through a series of misadventures before falling in love with him.

Director:

Melvin Frank

Writers:

Melvin Frank (screenplay), Barry Sandler (screenplay)

Stars:

George Segal, Goldie Hawn, Conrad Janis

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Segal	...	Charlie Malloy
Goldie Hawn	...	Amanda Quaid
Conrad Janis	...	Gladstone
Thayer David	...	Widdicombe
Jennifer Lee Pryor	...	Trollop (as Jennifer Lee)
Sid Gould	...	Rabbi
Pat Ast	...	Music Hall Singer
E.J. André	...	Prospector (as E.J. Andre)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Stage Coach Driver (as Dick Farnsworth)
Clifford Turknett	...	Ticket Agent
Harlan Knudson	...	Cooper
Jean Favre	...	Drunk / Usher
Bill McLaughlin	...	Murdock
Richard Jamison	...	Waiter
Barbara Ulrich	...	Maisie

Storyline

It's 1882 on the Barbary Coast. Charlie Malloy aka the Dirtwater Fox, makes his living cheating at cards. His latest venture however is stealing $40,000 from a bunch of outlaws. Bluebird, a saloon performer and prostitute, wants an easy life. When a Mormon, Josiah Widdicombe, comes to town, Bluebird has the idea that being the seventh wife of a Mormon would be a good life - she only has to work once every seven days. She steals Malloy's bag with the money, unaware of the amount inside. She only wants enough to buy a dress to masquerade as a duchess for Widdicombe. The ruse works. On Bluebird's way to Salt Lake City, Malloy catches up with her. Although Bluebird still has every intention of becoming a Mormon wife, the two decide to partner on the scheme of Mormon riches. All the while, the outlaws are on their tail after their $40,000.

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Plot Keywords:

mormon | con man | stagecoach | animal in title | title in title | 

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Taglines:

It's GEORGE SEGAL and GOLDIE HAWN conning their way through the old west in a brisk and bawdy comedy.

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The names of the actors and their characters (in parentheses) who were members of "The Bloodworth Gang" were: Bob Hoy (Ingersoll), Walter Scott (Graves), Jerry Gatlin (Stein), and Bennie E. Dobbins (Murphy), and gang leader Roy Jenson (Bloodworth).

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Goofs

"Hava Nagila" is sung and danced at the Horowitz' wedding. This song would not be composed until the 1920s, years after this film is set.

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Quotes

Charlie 'Dirtwater Fox' Malloy: I think we're safe.
Amanda Quaid/Duchess Swansbury: You thought taking the money was going to be a cinch, too.
Charlie 'Dirtwater Fox' Malloy: Taking the money was a cinch. It's keeping it that's getting to be a pain in the ass!

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Connections

Featured in It'll Be Alright on the Night (1977)

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Soundtracks

Fools Gold
Words by Sammy Cahn and Melvin Frank
Music by Charles Fox

User Reviews

Full of fun and of joie d'vivre.

This is a rather naughty little film, with a lot of Goldie Hawn on view at times. It is however done with such a lovely sense of fun and mischief that my kids and I watched it many times with great enjoyment.

Goldie sings some fun songs - including one about fruit, naughty fruit - and goes adventuring across the Old West in the company - at times - of the handsome and talented George Segal. [My favourite GS film, this one!] There are some sidesplitting scenes - for both audience and Goldie's clothes - and there is a very well-trained horse.

Best of all is the running gag! - How many times did you....? - Including this time? Once!

I use it all the time!!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hebrew French German

Release Date:

1 April 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox

Filming Locations:

Gilpin County, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,590,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1