The Chicken Ranch is owned by the busty Miss Mona (Dolly Parton); and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Burt Reynolds) who is in love with Mona sees to it that the bordello is not discovered by the powers that be.

However, television consumer reporter Melvin P. Thorpe (Dom DeLuise) is out to expose and close down this most sacred state treasure.

A very endearing musical comedy which reunited Dolly Parton with her NINE TO FIVE director Colin Higgins. Parton also contributed to the score of the film, which was altered significantly from the stage version.


A Delight!!!   January 25, 2004
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

I was in college when this movie came out and I missed it back then. I didn't think it was going to be any good.

I ended up buying it, as I'm collecting every movie that's ever been nominated or has won an Oscar, that's available on DVD. I was reluctant to purchase this one, but the price was excellent, and grabbed it.

What made this movie such a treat is the quality of the photography by William Fraker, the musical numbers, especially "Hard Candy Christmas" (fabulous!)and "I'll Always Love You" (which I cannot understand why it wasn't nominated for an Oscar as best song, since Dolly Parton wrote it, to my knowledge, for this film and it is great!); the dancing, superb; the whole tongue-in-cheek approach (albeit for adults--this is not a movie for kids) works; and they way they got away with all the whole thing, is astonishing. Granted, it's based on a very popular Broadway musical, but they seldom translate well to the screen...and with Burt and Dolly in the leading roles? Well, they're fabulous! Dolly is simply magical, and everything about her is perfect for her role as the madam Miss Mona.

Charles Durning as the governor of Texas does a brief but smashing job--it's a brilliant sequence, and now I understand why he was nominated as best supporting actor for this movie.

Overall, if you want to have a good time, light fun, listen to some good tunes, and ultimately feel strangely satisfied and happy, I recommend this film. It's actually excellent and hasn't aged a bit in 20 years...it's more fresh today than probably back when I was in college and thought it was "trash".

Now I think it's a pleasure. Not for kids, however. But adults who aren't as snobbish as some college students can be at times, will get a kick out of this surprising delight!


The best little movie I ever saw   April 27, 2000
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

This has to be one of the best musicals of all time, and certainly the most underrated. Well-cast and well-acted, and with great song and dance routines, comedy, heartache and tension, it really is a must-see movie. Burt and Dolly are absolutely brilliant as Sheriff Ed Earl and Miss Mona, equalled only by Charles Durning and his amazing twisting cowboy hat, and well supported by the Chicken Ranch girls. Get your hanky ready for the tearful moments, and prepare to smile your way through the joy - and just make sure you dance the Sidestep too!


Makes an excellent social commentary   November 30, 2003
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This movie is incredibly entertaining from beginning to end and goes through a wide range of emotions and human trials and tribulations - humor & sadness, triumph and failure, loyalty and hypocrisy, etc.

I think that most people watching this movie miss, what is to me, the most important point of the entire movie.

You have a small town with a whorehouse that has been in existence for over 100 years. The people in the town have no problem whatsoever with the whorehouse. In fact, many of residents talk about why they support it.

It's the people elsewhere that have a problem with the whorehouse. It's something that they don't condone and they want to force their beliefs on the people in the town, disregarding completely how the people in the town itself feel.

It's a problem that exists in America and is one that I personally think is brought to light in this cleverly written musical. People are busy worrying about what their neighbors are doing rather than focusing on their own lives. Most of it comes from religious wackos like the one portrayed by Dom Deluise.

The serious commentary is cleverly hidden within the dancing, singing and action, but it's still there. Taking this into consideration adds a new dimension to the film and the viewing experience.