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This is a most unusual film which on the face of it appears to be a Western but how can this be when there is no gunfight on the town's main street, no saloon fights or bar room brawls, no sheriff to keep order and put the bad guys in jail, no Indians - in fact not much action of any kind that would usually be associated with a Western film. So what is the appeal of this extraordinary film where most of the story takes place during a long drawn out card game in the back room of the town's hotel? The tension mounts as stranger in town Henry Fonda is tempted to get into the high stakes poker game with some wealthy cattlemen after he had promised his wife (Joanne Woodward) that he would give up gambling. Obviously, he does join the game and is convinced that he has been dealt a hand that can't lose but the other players in the game also have good hands that each one feels could be the winner. Who is bluffing who? Can Fonda risk losing all the family savings of his wife and young son? Will the stakes go too high for Fonda to stay in the game? Can wife Joanne Woodward persuade Fonda to see sense and walk away? Surprise is piled upon surprise as the game progresses and the final twist is a beauty! What holds your interest is the finely plotted screenplay written by Sidney Carroll and magnificent acting from the entire cast. Henry Fonda and Joanne Woodward are wonderful in the lead roles and are admirably supported by a fantastic cast including Jason Robards Jr, Charles Bickford, Kevin McCarthy, Burgess Meredith, Robert Middleton and Paul Ford. Competently directed by Fielder Cook it grips your attention throughout and then packs a totally unexpected surprise ending that will delight you! Upon release in the U.K. the title was changed to "Big Deal in Dodge City".
Favourite lines:
Henry Fonda (to Joanne Woodward): "I got a hand of cards here comes once in a lifetime".
Woodward (to card players): "How do you play this game?".
Paul Ford (to Woodward): "Nobody sees those cards but you and C. P. Ballinger".
