The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Colin Higgins

Writers:

Larry L. King (magazine article)
Larry L. King (musical) ...

Release Date:

23 July 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

With Burt and Dolly this much fun just couldn't be legal!

Plot:

Town Sheriff and regular patron, fights to keep a historical whorehouse open when a TV preacher targets it as the Devils playhouse. |

Plot Keywords:

Television Reporter | Based On Magazine Article | Swearing | Blockbuster | Based On Musical

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 19	9:00 PM	CMTV
Fri. Nov. 20	12:30 AM	CMTV

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd
Dolly Parton	...	Mona Stangley
Dom DeLuise	...	Melvin P. Thorpe
Charles Durning	...	Governor
Jim Nabors	...	Deputy Fred
Robert Mandan	...	Senator Charles Wingwood
Lois Nettleton	...	Dulcie Mae
Theresa Merritt	...	Jewel
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Edsel
Barry Corbin	...	C.J.
Ken Magee	...	Mansel
Mary Jo Catlett	...	Rita Crowell
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Miss Modene
Howard K. Smith	...	Himself
Gail Benedict	...	Chicken Ranch Girl

Also Known As:

The Best Little Cathouse in Texas (Canada: English title) (bowdlerized title)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Peru:14 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Singapore:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

RKO Pictures

Trivia:

Marvin Zindler, on which Melvin P. Thorpe is based, liked the play but didn't like the film. Zindler said that his crusade against the Chicken Ranch has been taken out of context. He wasn't trying to get it closed down because of the prostitution, but because of the Ranch's reported ties to organized crime and other shady business dealings.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the very end of the movie, after Dolly sings "I Will Always Love You," Ed Earl marches out to the U-Haul and, informed by Mona's assistant, throws Mona's suitcases into the back of his Chevy truck. He then picks Mona up and carries her to the truck. In the closing scene, as the truck pulls out, the bed is empty - none of the suitcases he threw in are there.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Deputy Fred: It was the nicest little whorehouse you ever saw!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Joan Rivers/Musical Youth (#8.17)" (1983)

Soundtrack:

20 Fans

Sadly forgotten

Big, splashy, fun musical about a whorehouse (the Chicken Ranch) in Texas run by Miss Mona (Dolly Parton). She's in love with the sheriff (Burt Reynolds) and the town has no problem with the house. Then a sleazy TV showman (Dom DeLuise) exposes the ranch and all hell breaks lose.

This was a huge bomb in 1982 for some reason. It's full of energy and enthusiasm, has great songs and some fantastic all out production numbers. Reynolds is just OK but Parton is an absolute joy--she gives one of her best performances and even sings "I Will Always Love You" (I prefer Whitney's version). Also there is equal amounts of male and female nudity and has a healthy attitude about sex (this was made before AIDS was well-known about). And Charles Durning stops the show with his "sidestepping" number...he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for this. This should never have bombed--maybe the title scared people away.

Only complaint is the ending. It's way too serious and realistic--I wish they had opted for a fairy tale like ending. Also Lois nettleton's subplot is seriously underdeveloped--I assume it was shot but cut out for the running time.

See it and enjoy!