Big Hand for the Little Lady, A (DVD)

I have watched this movie too many times over the years to count and never get tired of it. The great Henry Fonda and the rest of the cast are superb! And even though the ending is no longer a surprise after the first viewing I still find myself enthralled. And now that I own it, it's the first time seeing it commercial free! A wonderful treat for Saturday afternoon when there is absolutely nothing of interest on TV.

This movie was pure entertainment and a delight to watch. The acting was superb and the plot was clever but believable (well, at least you didn't have to suspend disbelief entirely).The five richest men in the region have come to this western town for their annual poker game. Seemingly coincidentally, Henry Fonda and his wife (Joanne Woodward) and their 10 or 12 year old son have arrived on the same day and are staying at the same hotel. On hearing of the poker game on premises, Fonda (who has a gambling problem) asks if he can "watch." much to his wife's displeasure. She says he can watch but not play and she leaves their son to "baby sit" while she goes off an an errand.He watches for a while but then gets into the game (over the son's objection). After 2 or 3 hours he has lost their $4,000 grubstake but has been dealt a "fantastic" hand (as has, apparently, everyone else in the game.) He can't continue betting because he has run out of money. While contemplating how he can come up with the money (through a loan or otherwise) he has a heart attack and the local doctor (played by Burgess Meredith) is called. He removes Fonda to his office by stretcher but not before Fonda gives his "hand" to his wife (who has returned from her errand.) She professes Ignorance of the game of poker but, believing she has a good hand, seeks out a local banker (played by Paul Ford) who agrees to loan her any amount of money on the strength of her hand. On hearing that the other five players reluctantly "drop our" and she wins "a big hand for the little lady."But, that is not what really happened. What really happened was that Joanne Woodward was not a simple housewife completely ignorant of the game a poker but a card sharp in her own right who had engineered a magnificent Con Game. It was she who had hired Henry Fonda and the kid to play their parts. The doctor, Burgess Meredith, was in on the scam as was the banker Paul Ford. The other five poker players never knew what hit them.At this time Paul Ford was very well known since he played the bumbling colonel on the Sergeant BilkoTV series.For me, the conclusion to this movie was priceless. Apparently the doctor (Burgess Meredith) character's favorite song was "Ma Blushin Rosie." This has been one of my favorite songs ever since I first saw Larrry Parks lip-synch it and heard Al Jolson sing it in the 1946 movie "The Jolson Story." In the concluding scene in this movie Meredith tips his hat in tribute to the singer, Marilyn Powell, who, just before the credits roll, belts out a rousing version of: "Rosie, You are my posie. You are my hearts bouquet."I loved this movie all the way through and I was in ecstasy at the end.

This is an extremely charming movie. The cast is outstanding and all are well known. This is not your usual western where there is a "Good Guy" vs "Bad Guy" hassle going on and people getting killed, it is a bit of a"serious" comedy and has an enjoyable plot that is a surprise to all. I don't want to say more but I want you to find out for yourselves. This is a movie that is on my "watch it again every couple of years" list. Enjoy!

I'd felt it was an average ol' movie from the era it was made but the ending was great and quite a surprise. It may not be a surprise to other people but I foresaw something different. The writer might have wanted us to think what I was expecting, then Pow... something better.

This is an older movie, starring many familiar faces, such as Joanne Woodward. I ordered it one day while feeling nostalgic for a non-violent, non-cursing, non- sexy movie. It is just a good story. The acting is very good, the script is clever, and not to give too much away, a good ending. This is also a good old fashioned Western theme movie, with a lot of characters portraying the feeling of gambling and drinking in the saloon. Just sit back, and enjoy.

This movie is truly unique. It is both a both a drama and a comedy. As a result, I think it is the greatest poker movie of all time.The entire family will enjoy this movie. And If you play poker, you will love it. It makes a nice gift for someone you know who plays poker.In this movie, Henry Fonda plays a man who has promised his wife that he will never again play poker. However, he stumbles on a game that is too good to resist and joins the game. Unfortunately, he is a terrible player and loses steadily as the other players realize they have found a sucker. Then comes a hand where Henry Fonda is dealt a “once in a lifetime” hand. After Henry Fonda gets all his money (his entire life savings with which he and his wife planned to buy a ranch) in the pot, another player raises. Because they are playing by “western rules”, Fonda must come up with the money to call the raise or he forfeits the entire pot.At this point, two things happen; Fonda’s wife, Joanne Woodward, comes on the scene and discovers Fonda’s indiscretion and dilemma. Then, Fonda has a heart attack and is rendered unconscious.Although Woodward has never before played poker, she is not willing to lose her family’s money without a fight. She demands that the players allow her to play her husband’s hand. After some discussion, they agree. However, Woodward is faced with the problem of not having any money to call the raise. Her solution to this problem will surprise and amuse you.

fun romp similar to the sting-delightful

My husband and I caught the end of this movie on TV and then we were thrilled to find it on Prime so we could watch the whole thing. Great acting and a fun old movie.

Es una película muy buena, y estoy haciendo una lista para pedirles varias ok

Película muy entretenida con final sorprendente. Estás en ascuas durante la partida.Se ve muy bien.

Ordered this as a gift so I haven't looked at it, but it arrived in good shape and shrink-wrapped so I'm assuming the condition of the DVD is 'brand new'. I did watch the movie online to check it out and I liked it. Light-hearted comedy western, good con-movie, although it's no "Sting" and it's got my favorite Western star... Henry Fonda.

Ich hatte diesen Western in meiner Kindheit gesehn, mich ab und zu daran erinnert und ihn gesucht aber nie gefunden.Dann kaufte ich bei Amazon die spanische Version, die eine englische Tonspur hat - und auf englisch ist er wahrscheinlich eh am besten.Kurz gesagt - einer der besten Pokerfilme überhaupt.Allein die Besetzung ist unglaublich - Henry Fonda gewohnt stark, Jason Robarts in einer seiner besten Rollen, Joanne Woodward trägt den ganzen Film.Der Film hat eine der allerbesten ....nNein, das wäre schon ein Spoiler. Jedenfalls haben meine Kinder, nachdem sie vielleicht anfangs glaubten einen von Papas alten Filmen mit ansehen zu müssen, es nicht bereut.Jedes weitere Wort vor allem zu den besten "Elementen" des Films wäre wie gesagt - schon ein Spoiler.Wieso dieses Juwel in keiner deutschen Fassung vorliegt, während irgendwelche Western"klassiker" zu Dutzenden in irgendwelchen Sammelboxen verramscht werden, ist für mich das größte Rätsel des gesamten Westernangebotes von ganz Amazon.

レンタルでも見かけたことのない作品ですがとても好きな映画なのでリージョンフリーのDVDを見つけることが出来てラッキーでした☆