The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas [1982] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

This is an energetic, but ultimately mediocre adaptation of the play, directed on Broadway by Tommy Tune. Burt Reynolds is the town sheriff and a regular patron of a local bordello. He wages a public battle to keep it open after it is targeted as the devil's den by a television minister. Charles Durning won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and there are some lively song and dance numbers featuring Dolly Parton as the madam of the Chicken Ranch. However, this becomes bogged down in too many serious moments for it to be more than a lightweight musical comedy. --Rochelle O'Gorman, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

All round entertaining.......2004-05-03

This is a great film funny and entertaining, lighthearted and romantic, not to be taken seriously. Good music, good story, a real feel good romantic comedy, Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton are both great in the lead roles. Well worth watching.

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.......2004-03-04

If you’re looking for high art – forget it! Intellectual stimulation – look elsewhere! Great action sequences – sorry! But, if you want to largely disengage the brain for a semi-musical, sort of love-story, with a bit of morality, a few funny bits and even the odd tear-jerking moment thrown in (not to mention some attractive girls dancing in their lingerie), starring several well-loved actors having a day off (but definitely not an off day), then give this one a try. I don’t think you’ll regret it.

The film is allegedly based on a true story and concerns a “chicken ranch” (the establishment of the title) in Texas, to which the local sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Burt Reynolds at his affable best) has always turned a blind eye, largely because he’s “dating” the proprietress, Miss Mona (the wonderfully pneumatic Dolly Parton – ideal in the role). It comes to the attention of big-shot TV crusader, Melvin P. Thorpe (a splendidly over-the-top Dom DeLuise) who initiates a campaign to have it shut down. After being made to look a fool (!) on TV by Thorpe, sheriff Ed Earl goes in person to see the Governor of Texas (the always-superb Charles Durning – look out for his gem of a song-and-dance number “Oooh! I love to dance a little sidestep”) to plead the case for the chicken ranch, and the Governor…… well, you’ll have to watch it and find out.

Best Little Whorehouse In Texas.......2002-08-21

Dolly Parton at her most upfront and Burt Reynolds at his cheekiest best. A tremendous tour-de-force for all concerned. The acting is engaging and the song and dance routines are simply fabulous. Everyone gives their all and the film is one of the all-time feel-good movies alongside "Grease". Even the sad sections bring a smile to your face as the story goes on. Stunning!!!!!!

Neglected Musical Makes Entertaining Disc........2002-08-10

Based on the Broadway and West End hit musical ( with a few new songs added for the film ) ,this adaptation was not widely liked at the time. But now that Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton are no longer ubiquitous , its easy to see that there are not many film musicals nowadays. As the movie is still a tiny bit raunchy it does not show on TV all that often. And you need the full widescreen format to see Burt and Dolly at the same time.

Hilarious comedy.......2000-11-27

This is a gentle but hilarious comedy. A subject you would not normally think could be so entertaining, Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds complement each other perfectly, and the music is has you singing all the way through. I have been looking for this film on video for years. Well worth watching.

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