This Henry Fonda Western Comedy Doubles as a Daring Heist Masterpiece

The big picture

• A big hand for the lady
  defies Western stereotypes with a thrilling tale of high-stakes poker.
• The final twist of the film leaves both the audience and the players in awe, showing the acting skills of the main characters.
• This unique combination of western and heist genres captivates viewers with its unexpected plot twists.

The stereotypical Western that many of us grew up with has an obligatory checklist, including a cowboy, a love interest, a shootout, and a panning shot of the hero riding off into the sunset. Although every movie buff knows that John Wayne (True courage is a milestone in American cultural literacy), A big hand for the lady, starring Henry Fonda i Joanne Woodward, is a testament to the versatility of the Western genre. As if Matchstick Man known noonor Oceans Eleven known Rio Bravo, the film ranks among the best in the western and, more importantly, heist genres. Giving up noon for high hands, the film represents a departure from common formulas, however, resulting in a truly original story.

A big hand for the lady takes place in Laredo, Texas, where the city holds an annual high-stakes poker game. Coincidentally, Meredith, a reformed gambler played by Fonda, is driving through town with his wife and son when their wagon breaks down. Unable to help himself, he, of course, enters the game with his life savings. After suffering a heart attack while holding an excellent hand, he gives his letters to Mary, his wife played by Woodward, on the condition that no one else, including the audience, sees them. From there, the story evolves into a guessing game, with the audience's curiosity about the hand growing stronger throughout the rest of the film.

“A Big Hand for the Lady” changes the rules of western heists

The character study we see in A big hand for the lady it's unusually complex for a western of its era, where characters were generally reserved for strong, rugged types who exude macho charisma, not family men struggling with addiction. The other men in the poker game, included Kevin McCarthy i Jason Robards, fit the Western stereotype, even though they clearly sympathize with Mary. Here, we see a hint of emotional intelligence that is unique to characters meant to be rough and brutal. When Mary is told she must pay the bet or lose her hand, the audience feels that the players feel sorry for her because she is a woman (which comes into play at the end), but she doesn't give in.

The truly tough and tough character A big hand for the lady it is not Meredith, but Mary, who must be the strong leader of her family despite her husband's physical and mental health problems. Stuck a little, Mary takes out a loan from the local bank to back the bet, showing her hand to the bank manager as collateral. From this, the audience begins to identify with Mary, who is seemingly willing to do whatever it takes to take care of her family, despite the perplexing situation in which she finds herself. Although this isn't the first western to feature a strong, strong woman. lead, Woodward's commanding presence sells the film's premise so well that it not only feels different from other Westerns of the era, but from other films in general. Mary, though desperate, is able to confidently calm the other players down to such an extent that even the audience is willing to jump in and see what she has in her hand.

The audience isn't even on the score in 'A Big Hand for the Little Lady'

But here lies the problem: neither the audience, nor the other players, ever see what is in Mary's hand. The worst thing is that the entire plot of the film depends on what is in this “too good to be true” hand that has to be unbeatable. However, by the end of the film, the other players decide that the banker is too frugal to lend large sums of money based on a bluff, and leave without having seen what they were betting on.

Now, admittedly, this wouldn't fly in a lesser film, but the convincing performances of the main characters are so skillful that it feels right, and the audience doesn't feel like the townspeople are acting out of character . Given the circumstances in which a desperate family is about to be ruined by an out-of-control father, the viewer understands the willingness of the other players to give up pot. When the game ends, Mary manages to earn the respect of not only the other players, but the entire townand saves his family from financial disaster.

The characters are very convincing in “A Big Hand for the Lady”

Except, of course, that it really is elaborate weirdness. After the players leave, it is revealed that, with the help of the doctor and the banker, it was all a sham, right down to their “son”, who they have to get to their real parents in time for bed. But unlike other heist films, where audiences root for the protagonists to steal the money, in A big hand for the lady, they can't help but feel betrayed. Fonda and Woodward play a role so convincing that the audience is sure they are genuine. After all, who would gamble their life savings and borrow thousands of dollars on an elaborate scheme? Also, the western genre uses so few trust schemes that it never occurs to the viewer that it would be a hoax. At the end of the film, however, the audience is left holding the bagbut it's done so well that they can't help but admire the film for it.

In the interest of fairness, twist endings aren't a rarity in themselves, with how now Maverick or Two mules for sister Sara being more recognizable. what he does A big hand for the lady so memorable are the cast's flawless performances, which are so moving that the audience lets their guard down before the big twist. The revelation in similar films may come as a surprise, but the conclusion A big hand for the lady it's almost personal. Better yet, unlike other heist films, A big hand for the lady it can still mislead viewers even if they have read what comes nextsince the characters will play on their strings a melody worthy of Mozart.

A big hand for the lady is available to buy or rent on Prime Video in the US

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