Summary
The Bower Family Band petitions the Democratic National Committee to sing a Grover Cleveland rally song at the 1888 convention, but decide instead to move to the Dakota territory on the urging of a suitor to their eldest daughter. There, Grampa Bower causes trouble with his pro-Cleveland ideas, as Dakota residents are overwhelmingly Republican, and hope to get the territory admitted as two states (North and South Dakota) rather than one in order to send four Republican senators to Washington. Cleveland opposed this plan, refusing to refer to Congress the plan to organize the Dakotas this way. When Cleveland wins the popular vote, but Harrison the presidency due to the electoral college votes, the Dakotans (particularly the feuding young couple) resolve to live together in peace, and Cleveland grants statehood to the two Dakotas before he leaves office (along with two Democrat-voting states, evening the gains for both parties).
Cast
Walter Brennan
Grandpa Bower
Buddy Ebsen
Calvin Bower
Lesley Ann Warren
Alice Bower
John Davidson
Joe Carder
Janet Blair
Katie Bower
Kurt Russell
Sidney Bower
Bobby Riha
Mayo Bower
Jon Walmsley
Quinn Bower
Smith Wordes
Nettie Bower
Heidi Rook
Rose Bower
Debbie Smith
Lulu Bower
Pamelyn Ferdin
Laura Bower
Wally Cox
Mr. Wampler
Richard Deacon
Charlie Wrenn
Steve Harmon
Ernie Stubbins
Goldie Hawn
Giggly Girl
John Craig
Frank
Jonathan Kidd
Telegrapher
Julie Allred
Blonde Girl (uncredited)
Don Ames
Townsman (uncredited)
Jimmy Bates
Square Dance Blonde Dancer (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake
First Outspoken Man (uncredited)
Buddy Bryan
Man at Republican Meeting (uncredited)
Bill Coontz
Townsman (uncredited)
Ben Frommer
Townsman (uncredited)
Rudy Germane
Townsman (uncredited)
Hank Jones
Town Delivery Boy (uncredited)
Richard LaMarr
Townsman (uncredited)
Tex Lambert
Townsman (uncredited)
Kenneth MacDonald
Townsman (uncredited)
Bert May
Dancer (uncredited)
Philo McCullough
Townsman (uncredited)
Charles McQuary
Dakota Townsman (uncredited)
Norman Palmer
Townsman (uncredited)
Butch Patrick
Johnny (uncredited)
Peter Renaday
Dakota Townsman (uncredited)
Stephen Roberts
Second Outspoken Man (uncredited)
John Roy
Townsman (uncredited)
Andrea Sacino
Edna (uncredited)
Cosmo Sardo
Townsman (uncredited)
Jack Tornek
Townsman (uncredited)
Jerry Trent
Dancer (uncredited)
Marc Winters
School Kid (uncredited)
William Woodson
Henry White (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Michael O'Herlihy
Book
Laura Bower Van Nuys
Screenplay, Screenstory
Lowell S. Hawley
Reviews
r96sk
January 28, 2021
6
Close to being a good watch, but ends up being more boring than entertaining for me.
<em>'The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band'</em> has positives and negatives. I mostly enjoyed Walter Brennan and Buddy Ebsen in their roles, while Lesley Ann Warren is likeable too. A young Kurt Russell and future wife Goldie Hawn are in there, also. Some of the songs, meanwhile, are catchy.
However, my main negatives are the plot and the pacing. The story isn't that interesting and is more political than I was expecting; that's not a bad thing in itself, but it just turns into a shouting match towards the end - realistic I guess, given politics, but as a film it's not enjoyable to see unfold. They could've shaved 20mins off the run time, as well.
As noted, I did almost like this. It's the ending which kinda cemented it into the rating I've given. It isn't a bad film overall, mind.
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00
