The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
Directed by Norman Tokar
Genres - Comedy, Western, Children's/Family |
Sub-Genres - Comedy Western, Family-Oriented Comedy |
Release Date - Jul 1, 1975 (USA - Unknown), Jul 1, 1975 (USA) |
Run Time - 100 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - G
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
The Apple Dumpling Gang stars Bill Bixby as Russell Donovan, a slick frontier gambler. In Runyon-esque fashion, he is compelled to look after three precocious oprhaned kids. He can't handle the responsibilities alone, so he agrees to an in-name-only marriage to hoydenish stagecoach driver, Magnolia Dusty Clydesdale (Susan Clark). Fortuitously, they discover that a mine belonging to the kids' late father is worth millions. This brings several disreputable characters into the storyline: bumbling "nice" bandits Theodore Ogelvie and Amos (Don Knotts and Tim Conway), and deadly "bad" bandits headed by Frank Stillwell (Slim Pickens). Based on a novel by Jack M. Bickham, The Apple Dumpling Gang was successful enough to spawn a sequel-not to mention several future screen teamings for Don Knotts and Tim Conway.
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
bad-guy, family, gambling, gold, good-guy, home-alone, marriage, on-the-run, orphan, outlaw [Western], stagecoach