The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)
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A sheriff and the proprietress of a brothel must team up to save their establishment from a relentless media crusader.
The story
In the rural landscape of Lanville County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd and Miss Mona Stangley have shared a secret, loving relationship for over a decade. Mona operates the 'Chicken Ranch,' a local brothel that has been a community fixture since 1910. Their peaceful arrangement is disrupted when a television personality, Melvin P. Thorpe, announces his intention to expose the establishment on his program, The Watchdog Report. As Thorpe's crusade gains momentum and threatens the ranch's survival, the pair must navigate the escalating media pressure and local scrutiny to protect their home and their shared life from the scrutiny of a determined moral crusader.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd and Miss Mona Stangley have shared a secret romance for 12 years while she runs the 'Chicken Ranch,' a brothel that has been a local fixture since 1910. Their peace is shattered when television personality Melvin P. Thorpe announces an exposé on his show, The Watchdog Report. After Thorpe's public accusations and a confrontation in the town square, Ed Earl tries to shield Mona by closing the ranch for two months. However, a raid by Thorpe's crew results in a scandal involving a State Senator. Ed Earl appeals to the Governor of Texas to keep the ranch open, but the Governor orders it closed due to public disapproval. Following a physical confrontation with Thorpe, Ed Earl and Mona reconcile. Although the ranch is forced to close, Ed Earl proposes marriage to Mona. She initially refuses to protect his political ambitions, but he insists, ultimately winning a seat in the state legislature while remaining married to her.
- First release year
- 1982
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Colin Higgins
- Cast and characters
- Burt Reynolds · Sheriff (Ed Earl Dodd); Dolly Parton · Miss Mona Stangley; Dom DeLuise · Melvin P. Thorpe; Charles Durning · Texas governor; Jim Nabors · not specified
- Genres
- musical comedy; sex comedy
- Themes
- forbidden love; tradition vs. morality
- Tone and mood
- musical; comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; romance; small-town
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1978 stage musical
- Content notes
- sex
- Reception
- The film was a commercial success despite mixed reviews, becoming the highest-grossing musical film of its opening weekend.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 40 · scale: 100 · review count: 10
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · nomination; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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