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 Sherif 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. July 16	9:00 PM	CMTV
Thur. July 16	11:30 PM	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:

Dom DeLuise's character, Melvin P. Thorpe is based on the real newsman, Marvin Zindler (b. 1921, d. 7/29/07) who brought down the real Chicken Ranch. The incident where the sheriff snatches the wig off Thorpe's head and holds it high really happened between the La Grange county sheriff and Zindler. Zindler also pioneered "rat and roach" reports about restaurant cleanliness ("Slime in the Ice Machine!"),

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 "Tripping the Rift: Hollow Chode (#3.7)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Hard Candy Christmas

Just the right dose of Southern Comfort

Surprisingly good musical about the infamous "Chicken Ranch". The women are pretty, the songs are good, the dancing is OK. I wasn't expecting much, but I found the movie enjoyable, even fun to watch. Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton both give good performances. Great songs by Parton. She sings "I Will Always Love You" even better than Whitney. Another good song: "Sneaking Around with You" by both Parton and Reynolds. He sings!

Get over the title and rent this one. I actually got the movie from my local public library. The movie does make some kind of statement on the issue of prostitution, but also on the power of the media. But don't expect lengthy analysis!

Seen at home, in Toronto, on April 20th, 2005. I first saw this movie in the early eighties.

79/100 (***)