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The Ballad of Little Jo

  • 19931993
  • RR
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
Theatrical Trailer from Fine Line
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
26 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Western

After being thrown out of her home, a young woman decides to disguise herself as a man to survive the ruthless Wild West.After being thrown out of her home, a young woman decides to disguise herself as a man to survive the ruthless Wild West.After being thrown out of her home, a young woman decides to disguise herself as a man to survive the ruthless Wild West.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Maggie Greenwald
  • Writer
    • Maggie Greenwald
  • Stars
    • Suzy Amis
    • Bo Hopkins
    • Ian McKellen
Top credits
  • Director
    • Maggie Greenwald
  • Writer
    • Maggie Greenwald
  • Stars
    • Suzy Amis
    • Bo Hopkins
    • Ian McKellen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    The Ballad of Little Jo
    Trailer 2:01
    The Ballad of Little Jo

    Photos26

    Suzy Amis in The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    Ian McKellen in The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    Ian McKellen in The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    Suzy Amis and Rene Auberjonois in The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    Suzy Amis in The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
    The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Suzy Amis
    Suzy Amis
    • Jo Monaghanas Jo Monaghan
    Bo Hopkins
    Bo Hopkins
    • Frank Badgeras Frank Badger
    Ian McKellen
    Ian McKellen
    • Percy Corcoranas Percy Corcoran
    David Chung
    David Chung
    • Tinman Wongas Tinman Wong
    Heather Graham
    Heather Graham
    • Mary Addieas Mary Addie
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Streight Hollanderas Streight Hollander
    Carrie Snodgress
    Carrie Snodgress
    • Ruth Badgeras Ruth Badger
    Anthony Heald
    Anthony Heald
    • Henry Greyas Henry Grey
    Melissa Leo
    Melissa Leo
    • Mrs. Greyas Mrs. Grey
    Sam Robards
    Sam Robards
    • Jasper Hillas Jasper Hill
    Olinda Turturro
    • Elviraas Elvira
    Ruth Maleczech
    Ruth Maleczech
    • Shopkeeperas Shopkeeper
    Jeffrey Andrews
    • Samas Sam
    Cathy Haase
    Cathy Haase
    • Mrs. Addieas Mrs. Addie
    Peadair S. Addie Sr.
    • Mr. Addieas Mr. Addie
    Irina V. Passmoore
    • Russian Motheras Russian Mother
    • (as Irina Pasmur)
    Michael Ruud
    • Russian Fatheras Russian Father
    Sasha Pasmur
    • Nick - Age 14as Nick - Age 14
    • Director
      • Maggie Greenwald
    • Writer
      • Maggie Greenwald
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Based on a true story, this is the tale of Josephine Monaghan, a young woman of the mid nineteenth century who is thrown out of her parents' home after being seduced by the family's portrait photographer and giving birth to his child. Josephine quickly learns that young, female, pretty, and alone are a bad combination for life in the wild west. In her desperation to survive, Josephine disguises herself as "Jo", a young man, and struggles to make a life for herself in a dingy frontier mining town. Can "Little Jo" live and love without revealing his secret? —Martin Lewison <lewison@pitt.edu>
    • asian man
    • attempted rape
    • title directed by female
    • mining
    • f rated
    • 54 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • In the Wild West, a woman had only two choices. She could be a wife or she could be a whore... Josephine Monaghan chose to be a man.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Western
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sexuality and some violence
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Theatrical movie debut of Jenny Lynch (Helen Monaghan).
    • Goofs
      When Little Jo shoots his(her) first wolf, the wolf has a rope tied around his leg and it's being pulled on to make him lie down.
    • Quotes

      P.D. Smith, Ruby City Mortician: Mr. Badger!

      Frank Badger: Yeah, what? What the matter?

      P.D. Smith, Ruby City Mortician: It's about Little Jo!

      Frank Badger: Well, speak up, man! What about him!

      P.D. Smith, Ruby City Mortician: He was a woman!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: True Romance/The Ballad of Little Jo/Kalifornia/The Joy Luck Club/The Real McCoy (1993)

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    I thought it was great!
    I liked the movie. I found the story quite amusing and inspiring. I thought the acting was great too. I really think Suzie did a great job of portraying a woman trying to survive in a man's world. I enjoyed the perspective that it gave the viewer as to the expectations of gender roles. I loved the reactions of the towns' people when the truth was discovered, ranging from amused to outraged. All in all, I was very impressed by the whole story and the way it was portrayed by the actresses and actors in this film. I would recommend it.
    helpful•8
    0
    • rebtris
    • Nov 28, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 20, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Balladen om Little Jo
    • Filming locations
      • Carbon County, Montana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Joco
      • PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $543,091
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,773
      • Aug 22, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $543,091
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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