A naive traveler in Laredo gets involved in a poker game between the richest men in the area, jeopardizing all the money he has saved for the purpose of settling with his wife and child in San Antonio.
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Robert D. Ruplenas
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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.
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planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
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Well, this movie certainly beats the pants off watching THE CINCINNATI KID (the only other poker movie I can think of off the top of my head). It is a very unusual film set in the old West about a family passing through town and the head of the family who gets suckered into playing a high-stakes poker game and seems on the verge of losing everything. And, at the crucial moment when he is on the edge of either winning or going bust, he becomes too ill to continue and his wife, by default, is brought in to take his place.
The movie, despite the BRIEF overview I gave, is far deeper and is a super-intelligently written film. There are many wonderful twists and turns, but if I let it out of the bag, it would ruin it for you. Just give the movie a chance--it's a buried treasure.
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ozthegreatat42330 from Central City, Kentucky
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With Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Charles Bickford, Kevin McCarthy, Burgess Meredith and Paul Ford how can a movie fail? Certainly not this little jewel handsomely directed by Fielder Cook, normally a director of the small screen. But from the very beginning the film announces that it is going to be a lot of fun. Five of the wealthiest men in the territory drop whatever they are doing and gather once a year for a marathon poker game in a winner takes all stake. Into this rides Henry Fonda and his wife and son, on the way to Texas to make a new start. He is an on the wagon ex gambler, who instantly falls off when he finds out about the game and is suckered in by the meanest group of tightfisted sarcastic card players in the west. Just when he finally gets the hand he has been waiting for he has a heart attack, and his wife has to take over for him. What will happen and what hand is she holding? If you want to find out you just have to see this great little film for yourself.
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theowinthrop from United States
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One can make a case that Henry Fonda appeared in many westerns that were dramatic - mostly directed by John Ford. FORT APACHE, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, YOUNG MR. LINCOLN, and DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK come to mind. One can add JESSE JAMES and THE RETURN OF FRANK JAMES and WARLOCK to this list too. But towards the end of his career he also did two comedies, one being a black comedy (THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN) and the other being this film, which is a very satisfactory straight comedy.
The story is about how three travelers from the east headed west land in a town where once every year a set of local heavy hitters (Jason Robards, Robert Middleton, John Qualen, Charles Bickford, and Kevin McCarthy) hold a really big poker game with a big pot for the victor. It's actually limited to these five men, but Fonda, who has a small cash fund for himself and his family, shows interest. He manages to get himself into the game - much to the distress of his wife (Joanne Woodward) and their son (Jean-Michel Michenaud). Fonda loses hand after hand, despite occasionally coming close to a decent hand of cards. Then, when he's out of money, he tries to raise money somehow. He claims he can't get out of the game - especially the next hand. He insists he has a brilliant poker hand! He becomes so insistent that he collapses. The local doctor (Burgess Meredith) says it's a mild heart attack. The others figure that it means the end - but Woodward insists that she have an opportunity to continue playing in order to try to win the family money back!
The five big hitters can't believe this, and struggle to restrain themselves from reminding her that she is not supposed to be in a big gambling game at all. But she is insistent. Fine, they insist on her ante - ing up. So...she decides to go for a loan to the local banker (Paul Ford). And I will leave the story at that point.
A BIG HAND FOR THE LITTLE LADY is a western, and a comedy. It is also one of the handful of good movies (THE CINCINATTI KID is another) dealing seriously with card playing. The resolution of this clever comedy is a joy, and I recommend catching it when you can.
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bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
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A Big Hand For The Little Lady takes place in Laredo, Texas circa the turn of the last century. The film actually dates itself because a couple of current record cylinders are played, Ma Blushin' Rosie and Hello My Baby both of which came out around 1900. Anyway a big annual event in this town is when five of the big movers and shakers of the community get together for a big no holds barred poker game. The big five are Jason Robards, Jr., Charles Bickford, Kevin McCarthy, Robert Middleton, and John Qualen.
After the game gets going with the whole town just hanging on word of every hand, a very tired trio of pilgrims, Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, and their child Gerald Michenaud arrive in town. They are a sorry trio, especially Fonda who would be a candidate for Gamblers Anonymous if such a thing existed in 1900. Fonda just asks if he could watch, kind of like Arthur O'Connell who hasn't got the price of favors at the bordello in There Was A Crooked Man, but the madam allows him a little fun at the keyhole for old time's sake.
Kevin McCarthy is the one who takes pity on him and in fact this is the first but not the last time he shows gallantry as a true Southern gentleman.
A Big Hand For The Little Lady is a film that's almost impossible to write about without giving away anything. I absolutely dare not go any further in talking about it.
But what A Big Hand For The Little Lady is is that it is a really original idea for a western comedy that I defy anyone to watch without enjoying it. It's not got the rough house type humor that Burt Kennedy or John Ford do in their films, but there are laughs a plenty.
This film turned out to be the farewell appearance on the big screen for Charles Bickford one of the best and most durable character actors the screen ever saw. He's kind of subdued in the film, my guess is that health problems were starting to overtake him. Still he fits the gruff part he has perfectly.
It's a fine film with a surprise twist that beats all.
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Greg Couture from Portland, Oregon
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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.
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JulietBlksoldier from United States
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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".
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brefane from United States
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Like Frank Gilroy's From Noon Til Three(1977), A Big Hand for the Little Lady is a surprisingly enjoyable, and generally unknown western comedy. Centering around an annual poker game in the old West, the film is bolstered by a well-chosen and diverse group of veteran actors at the top of their game giving thoroughly committed performances. At 60 years old, Fonda looks great, and is a master of facial expression;no poker-face here, and Woodward is perfectly cast as his wife. The first rate ensemble features a stellar Kevin McCarthy along with Burgess Meredith, Jason Robards Jr, Charles Bickford and a delightful Paul Ford. The direction keeps what might have been static bustling. Well made film with an authentic atmosphere has a nice payoff at the end. The G-rated A Big Hand for the Little Lady gives family comedy a good name.
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psagray from Spain
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This is a film that adds comedy, drama and western, and tells the story of a poker game is considered the most important of the West for the amount of money bet, personality and social highlight of the players, its long tradition (16 years of playing) and they regularly meet once year in the place, date and time agreed. The event raises great expectations and the winner becomes a folk hero of legend.
The script of the film is ironic and sarcastic. It has a good character building. The dialogue is strong, short and accurate, with artful twists free of traps and rich sense of humor, surprise, please and get to make the film a fun and entertaining work. The combination of suspense and humor is well achieved: both factors are complementary.
The film has an excellent cast, manages to recreate a powerful story, told with great austerity of means, but that keeps us interested until the last second. Henry Fonda as a parent who fails to overcome his penchant for gambling, shows modest and emotional, and plunges us into a dramatic character which threatens all our hopes. Joanne Woodward, imposes a strong woman character, ready to defend her rights until the end. And with them, Jason Robards, Kevin McCarthy, Robert Middleton, Burgess Meredith, manage to give the best result to a story that will be well remembered and that will be good to recommend to the great fans of the card game.
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John Greenwald (johnedit@bigfoot.com) from Lowell, Mass.
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Comedy-drama about annual monster poker game in Texas. Henry Fonda plays a poker player on the wagon, but he gets into the game anyway. His performance is excellent, conveying complicated, conflicting emotions. Joanne Woodward, as Fonda's wife, has grit, with a sweet Virginia accent
The film's visual style revealed the director's TV background: lots of angled two- and three-shots. Lee Garmes was the cinematographer, and he gives the film a deep, rich look.
First rate supporting cast does tend to yell too much. And twist ending isn't that much of a surprise, but it's neat anyway.
This picture is a treasure! Who knew?
Director Fielder Cook had liked James Berwick's performance so much that he insisted Berwick reprise his television role of barman Sam Rhine in this film, despite his lack of cinema experience. This was Berwick's only screen role of any note, all other appearances being bit parts.
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This film provides the final screen appearance of comedian Chester Conklin, who had appeared in about 300 movies from 1913.
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Final film of Charles Bickford.
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This movie was initially written for television as "Big Deal in Laredo".
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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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Big Hand for a Little Lady and The Sting (1973) are both movies about swindling big shot gamblers who were used to swindling unsuspecting players. These two movies are also connected by the actors who starred in them. Joanne Woodward, who starred in 'Big Hand', was married (for 50 years) to Paul Newman, who starred in 'The Sting'.
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The hand that Mary is holding for her husband Meredith is the 4 and 6 of clubs, 5 of diamonds, 6 and Queen of hearts, a very poor hand. ADDITION: This may be the hand that she shows when asking for the loan; but earlier, in the poker room, she flashes a 10 (of diamonds or spades)in her hand when speaking and gesturing to her son. What the hand was actually supposed to be apparently was not germane to the plot and the actual cards used for the hand were apparently changed from scene to scene as the viewer was expected to always wonder what the hand really was (and not pay such close attention).
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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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The songs in the final scenes, "Ma Blushin' Rosie (Ma Posie Sweet)" and "Hello, Ma Baby" (aka "Telephone Rag") were both written around 1899-1900, whereas the action in the film takes place around 1880.
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When Meredith calls for, and receives a new deck, he has no chips in front of him. When he is shuffling the deck, his chips re-appear on the table.
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Sam Rhine says that The five richest men in the territory are in the back room playing for blood. At the time the movie is set, circa 1880, Texas had been a state for about 40 years.
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The character "Doc" was played by Burgess Meredith, however in the closing credits his name was spelled "Burgess Meridith".
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When they are dividing the take near the end of the movie, the boy hands Meredith (Henry Fonda) $9420, which he then hands to C.P. Ballinger (Paul Ford), saying "That's ninety four twenty to you CP; the stake and your raise." Tihs presumably refers to the $4,000 cash that Meredith put into the game, plus the $5,000 that Ballinger "loaned" Mary, plus his "interest" on the "loan". However, Ballinger never actually put up the $5,000 - it was just chips, and Mary "paid off" the loan and interest right at the card table. So it should have been only $4,000 separately to Ballinger.
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poker game|
AKAs Titles:
Argentina (working title) - La ltima jugada
Austria - Hchster Einsatz in Laredo
Bulgaria (Bulgarian title) - “олма €Šка за малка‚а лейди
Brazil - Jogada Decisiva
Canada (English title) - A Big Hand for the Little Lady
Canada (French title) - Gros coup Dodge City
Denmark - Poker i Dodge City
Spain - El destino tambi n juega
Finland - Kova panos Dodge Cityss
France - Gros coup Dodge City
UK - Big Deal at Dodge City
Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title) - To megalo kolpo tou Dodge City
Hungary - A nagy k z a kicsi hlgynek
Ireland (English title) - Big Deal at Dodge City
Italy - Posta grossa a Dodge City
Mexico - La ltima jugada
Norway - Verdens villeste poker
Poland - Hazardzisci z Teksasu
Portugal - Todos contra um
Romania (literal title) - O mana buna pentru micuta doamna
Sweden - Full hand i Dodge City
West Germany - Hchster Einsatz in Laredo
Yugoslavia (Serbian title) (literal title) - Velika prevara u Dodz Sitiju
Release Dates:
Certifications:
Australia:PG / Canada:PG (video rating) / Finland:S / Sweden:15 / USA:Approved
Movie Details:
624x352 (23.976 Fps - 936 Kbps)
MOVIE
