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The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas • The Next Reel
“It’s just a lil’ ole bitty pissant country place. Nothing much to see.”
After Nine to Five, Colin Higgins had been working on a few ideas of his own when he was asked by his recent collaborator Dolly Parton to direct her next film, the adaptation of the Broadway musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. While coming on board a relatively put together story may not have allowed Higgins to craft the story his way, the project still did fit with the types of stories about outsiders that he was best known for. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Colin Higgins series with his 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
We talk about the challenges of a film about prostitution and making the characters relatable. We look at the on-screen chemistry between Parton and her co-star Burt Reynolds. We chat about some supporting staff like Charles Durning, Dom DeLuise, and Jim Nabors. We discuss what the film’s saying about politics, the media, and legislating morality. We touch on Dolly’s iconic song “I Will Always Love You” which she included in this film, and discuss who did it better – Dolly or Whitney? And we look at Higgins’ career and discuss what makes a Higgins film a Higgins film?
It’s a fun film but not something that wowed us. Either way we have a great time talking about it on this week’s show, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.
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Film Sundries
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- Watch this film: iTunes • Amazon • Netflix • YouTube
- Script Transcript
- Original theatrical trailer
- Original poster artwork
- The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas The Musical (Wikipedia)
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Chapters
- This Is The Next Reel: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
- Celebrating a Cultural Artifact?
- A Colin Higgins Story
- Burt & Dolly
- Dom Deluise
- Charles Durning
- Jim Nabors
- I will always love you will always love you oooo oooo oooo
- The House
- Colin's Trope Corner!
- Awards
- Andy runs the numbers
- Final thoughts on the Higgs.
- Flickchart
- Letterboxd
- Coming attractions