The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)

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

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:

In terms of box-office The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) was the most successful movie-musical of the 1980's.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sheriff Dodd punches Melvin P. Thorpe and sends him sliding across the floor, Thorpe slides across a design in the floor and stops with his head and shoulders outside the design. The following aerial shot shows him with his head centered perfectly in the middle of the design.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Jay Leno Show: (#1.23)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Watchdog Report/Texas Has a Whorehouse in It

One of the most fun and upbeat musicals ever made.

How could anyone not love this movie? Being a big fan of musicals myself, I love this movie for the fun, campy performances, larger then life, sassy, characters,smalltown southern charm, the surprisingly sweet romance between Reynolds and Parton(I'm a big fan of both) and the homage to the south in general-YEEHAW!!! This is a perfect movie to watch directly after you've watched a heavy movie and want to "come down". It's bright, fun and filled with wicked gaiety. Anyone who's a fan of musicals should see this, I've seen many a stage show as well, my one big regret is I never saw the play version of this.

I don't see how anyone could fault Burt Reynolds performance in this, in my opinion the casting choices-all of them-were as close to perfect as there is. Although I do not live in Texas, I have visited and hold a deep admiration for Texas and all it has to offer. I love movies about one of my favorite states in the country, as well as musicals, so this was a double plus. And everyone played their roles with such charm, Dolly was so lovable, Reynolds, the tough sheriff yet so decent at heart and Charles Durning as mentioned by nearly EVERYBODY was amazing.

This ranks up there as one of my all time top musicals, it's got so much gaiety and is so infectiously warm, inviting and a celebration of fun! A must see. 8 of 10.