Henry Fonda

Joanne Woodward

Jason Robards

Paul Ford

Charles Bickford

Burgess Meredith

Kevin McCarthy

Robert Middleton

John Qualen

Jean-Michel Michenaud

James Berwick

Allen Collins

Jim Boles

Virginia Gregg

Chester Conklin

Mae Clarke

Ned Glass

James Griffith

Noah Keen

Milton Selzer

Victor Adamson

Fred Aldrich

Richard Alexander

Mark Allen

Walter Bacon

John Bose

Rudy Bowman

John Breen

Loren Brown

Claudia Bryar

Mushy Callahan

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Bud Cokes

William Cort

Russell Custer

Tom Fadden

Joe Garcio

Tony Giorgio

Louise Glenn

George Golden

James Gonzalez

Duke Green

Herman Hack

Chick Hannan

Buck Harrington

Chester Hayes

Percy Helton

Lars Hensen

Jimmie Horan

Thomas E. Jackson

Harvey Karels

Kenner G. Kemp

Johnny Kern

Richard LaMarr

Natalie Masters

Philo McCullough

Rod McGaughy

Clyde McLeod

Jackie Minty

John Rice

John Roy

Kenneth Sanborn

Chick Sheridan

Carl Sklover

Henry Slate

Ted Smile

Cap Somers

Charles Sullivan

Hal Taggart

Jack Tornek

George Tracy

Max Wagner

Chalky Williams

Marilyn Powell

Fielder Cook

Lee Garmes

George R. Rohrs

Ralph S. Hurst

Sidney Carroll

Robert S. Smith

Jean Burt Reilly

Joel Freeman

David Raksin

Joseph E. Kenney

Gordon Bau

Everett A. Hughes

Boyd Stockman

Wayne Fitzgerald

Roydon Clark

Western

A Big Hand for the Little Lady

Eden Productions Inc.

United States of America

On The Poker Wagon!

Big Deal at Dodge City (AKA: A Big Hand for the Little Lady) is directed by Fielder Cook and written by Sidney Carroll. It stars Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda, Paul Ford, Jason Robards, Charles Bickford, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ford and Burgess Meredith. Music is by David Raksin and cinematography by Lee Garmes.

Utterly delightful, though that statement is on proviso you be watching this film for the first time. For this be a comedy - cum - semi drama Western that relies on its finale to reward you for your time spent with such a splendid ensemble of actors.

We are in the tin-pot town of Black Creek and there's a high stakes poker game in progress. Wandering into Black Creek are husband and wife Meredith (Fonda) and Mary (Woodward), who with their young son in tow are just stopping by before settling down with some acres to bear life fruition. Only there's a problem, Meredith loves poker and catching wind of such a high stakes poker game thriving in the back of the saloon, he is prepared to bet the family nest egg as the gambling fever takes a hold...

Okies, so it really helps if you have a modicum of interest in card playing movies, because 90% of this pic is about the game being played, with director (and producer) Cook keeping things very intimate, close and personal, and sweaty. Yet the various characterisations that unfold during this card game, the foibles and ugly traits, not only make for an interesting observation of the human condition, but it's also very funny. Sarcastically, cynically or wry? Whatever!

Cast are tried and tested and on form, helped enormously by a clever screenplay. Yep! There's the feeling that things have been padded out to make it a feature length production, but such is the strong ensemble of thesps on show it's barely an itch that needs scratching. Come "that" finale - you cheeky old devil you - it matters not, cheer or laugh, moan or groan, whichever is your want, it's a pic that has drawn you in hook, line and sinker. 7/10

English

A Big Hand for a Little Lady - Theatrical Trailer (Warner Archive Collection)