A BIG HAND FOR THE LITTLE LADY

US, 1966, 95 minutes, Colour.
Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, Paul Ford, Charles Bickford, Burgess Meredith, Kevin McCarthy?, Robert Middleton, John Qualen, Chester Conklin, Virginia Gregg.
Directed by Fielder Cook.

A Big Hand for the Little Lady is a comic western. It portrays a husband and wife travelling west to buy a farm. As they stay in Laredo, the husband enters a poker game with five of the richest men in Laredo. He dies of a heart attack – and that means that his wife has to take his place. However, she knows nothing about playing poker. This is the basic comic premise – with a touch of tension for pleasant comedy drama. The film has a very strong cast with Henry Fonda and Joanne Woodward as the wife. Some veterans appear as the rich men of Laredo. (The film was originally written for television with the play on words title, Big Deal in Laredo.)

The film was directed by Fielder Cook who worked mainly in television but made a few films for cinemas including How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life and a film about Napoleon, Eagle in a Cage, 1972).

1. The tone of the title and all its ironies: her card hand, a hand of applause?

2. The appeal of the west for audience, settings and atmosphere, the law, cards, bustling? The way the film exploited this?

3. The appeal of gambling, the atmosphere, card games risks, money? The way the film exploited this?

4. The atmosphere of the town, the colour, the west, the varying styles for pathos and for humour?

5. The importance of the opening and the atmosphere of the big game? The round-up of the men? Their background? The annual event and the high stakes? The participants excitement and audience excitement?

6. The types of men at the game? The stern man, the beaming gambler, the continual complainer, the courteous gambler, the glum older man? What attitudes did they illustrate? The predominance of Henry Dortmund? His antagonism at the table, to the other men. the story of his daughter waiting for her wedding? (The significance of his being fleeced, returning home, paying off the would be bridegroom? The significance of this for the overall film?

7. The build-up of the game, people asking for reports all around the town?

8. The arrival of the family and the first impression? Their meekness and quiet, the contrast with the gambling? Their innocence? The step by step fascination of Meredith with the game? His style? Mary and her innocence?

9. The nature of Meredith's fascination, his gradual involvement in the game, being a victim and being a victor ? The irony of this in the light of the restitution? The conning tricks of card games?

10. The films contrasting this with Mary at the blacksmith's? The boy and the problems of the money, Mary's permission?

11. How strong was the build-up for Mary to enter into the game? The heart attack, the rigmarole attending this, the explanations, the men’s varying reactions, amongst themselves, the reconsideration? The visit to the bank and the persuading of the manager? The big hand as the guarantee for the loan? The bluff in poker? How glad were the audience that Mary won the money? For what reasons?

12. The humour of the win and the revelation of the whole plan? The reconsideration of all the events and the characters in terms of the resolution?

13. The contribution of C.P.Dallinger? His acting and getting his money back? The doctor, his money and ambitions? The child, Mary and Meredith? The final seeing of them gambling?

14. The world of gambling, bluffs, confidence tricks, morality and the susceptibility of human nature? Was this a satisfying comedy about gambling?