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Programme Information

Gags fly thicker than bullets in a Leone movie in this comedy Western starring Billy Crystal as Mitch, Daniel Stern as Phil and Bruno Kirby as Ed. Together, the three are urban buddies who seek to exorcise their mid-life crises by spending their annual two week vacation on a cattle drive from New Mexico to Colorado. At the ranch, they team up with an assortment of other holidaymakers, including Bonnie (Helen Slater), under the guidance of leathery trail boss Curly (Jack Palance).

When the drive starts, the city slickers start off as inept drovers - Mitch sets off a stampede with his portable coffee grinder - but gradually Curly begins to teach them how to appreciate life and to believe in old Western values. But when Curly dies suddenly, Phil and Ed intend to abort the mission. However, Mitch insists they continue with the drive and, as they progress, he realises the value of his marriage and family. Womaniser Ed admits he really loves his wife and newly-divorced Phil starts a relationship with Bonnie. Finally, Mitch leads the group as they successfully help the cattle to ford a raging river and deliver the herd to the Colorado ranch.

"I call this my coming of middle age movie," said Crystal who wrote the original story and passed his plot notes to Mandel and Ganz who "supplied me with a very funny script that remained faithful to the storyline." The sharply observed, often moving screenplay gives the film genuine realism which makes it more than simply a comic, gag-filled Western. The characters are credible and driving direction by Ron Underwood never loses sight of the key characters or abandons them in favour of a smart joke. Palance, given one of his best roles in years, creates a character who brilliantly and believably embodies the beliefs and behaviour of the old West and, as a result, was rightly rewarded with the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor.

Keywords:

Adventure, Comedy, Western, Movie, Film, Movies, Films

Additional Information:

(1991) (Canada) (3 Star)

Cast:

Billy Crystal	.... Mitch Robbins
Daniel Stern	.... Phil Berquist
Bruno Kirby	.... Ed Furillo
Patricia Wettig	.... Barbara Robbins
Helen Slater	.... Bonnie Rayburn
Jack Palance	.... Curly Washburn

Supporting Cast:

Noble Willingham	.... Clay Stone
Tracey Walter	.... Cookie
Josh Mostel	.... Barry Shalowitz
David Paymer	.... Ira Shalowitz
Bill Henderson	.... Dr. Ben Jessup
Jeffrey Tambor	.... Lou
Phill Lewis	.... Dr. Steven Jessup
Kyle Secor	.... Jeff
Dean Hallo	.... T.R.
Karla Tamburrelli	.... Arlene Berquist
Yeardley Smith	.... Nancy
Robert Costanzo	.... Sal
Walker Brandt	.... Kim Furillo
Molly McClure	.... Millie Stone

Directors:

Ron Underwood

Writers:

Lowell Ganz
Babaloo Mandel

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