Movies about the movies are a particularly rich vein, especially in comedies. No one understands just how ridiculous Hollywood is like the people who work there. This film is an affectionate behind-the-scenes story about a bumpkin (Jeff Bridges) who moves to Hollywood in the 1930s with visions of a career penning the kind of Westerns he loves to watch, especially the ones starring his favorite Western star (Andy Griffith). Instead, through a series of mishaps, he becomes an actor himself--and a pretty bad one at that--starring in B Westerns (and becoming a rival to Griffith, who turns out to be a particularly nasty piece of work, in a bit of casting against type). Alan Arkin and Blythe Danner join in the fun in this good-natured and amusing spoof. --Marshall Fine
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: The Wall of the Rio Cafe Comment: What a pleasant surprise! Caught this little gem by lucky accident.
It's a sweet, simple story that gets almost everything right. Every character -- especially the old-timer who sidles over to the next stool at the Rio, or the old-timer who watches in mute alarm as Tater acts out a whip-Lash Larue scene -- is right-on right & memorable.
More important, every hat is right & memorable. Every Stetson here is a tip-of-the-hat tribute to Tim McCoy, William S. Hart, Bill Boyd, Hoot ... all those great guys from the days of yesteryear who never, not even once, snuggled in together for a two-dog night in a one-pup tent.
(Question: Does it seem likely that the one-building town of Titan, Nevada, would have had electricity in 1933, before REA? Don't think so. Question: Is the wall of the Rio Cafe in this 1975 film an homage to 1972's Godfather?) Customer Rating: Summary: Very nice Comment: I only saw some of this movie but i think it is very funny. Jeff bridges can act very good. and andy griffith plays a very good meanie. i remeber the last scent when griffith saves the day. i think it is funny movie Customer Rating: Summary: Genuinely sweet, genuinely funny, and urbane cowpokes too Comment: This film is full of scoundrels and opportunists and still manages to make life seem delicious. Long before Gwenyth Paltrow was famous her mother, Blythe Danner, was known by aficionados as someone that picked superb material. She's here as The Girl, savvy but still sweet enough to fall for the truly endearing and monumentally naive Jeff Bridges. Alan Arkin does a sublime high strung director of 1920s cowboy movies, and you won't believe what Andy Griffith can do. See it and feel great not in a sappy way: a truly grown up delight. Customer Rating: Summary: a treasure! Comment: Jeff Bridges was wonderful in this little gem- a hint of good things to come! What fun seeing Andy Griffith as a meanie! Glad I found this video at amazon.com Customer Rating: Summary: A truly under-rated movie! Comment: Who knew that Andy Griffith could really act? And he's the bad guy! See this movie, you won't regret it.
