The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
A bawdy Texas musical comedy pits a beloved brothel, its protective sheriff, and their fragile romance against a televised moral crusade.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- bawdy
- campy
- witty
- musical movie night
- dolly parton marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film uneven and often dull, while acknowledging occasional bright performances and comic supporting turns.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film turns a Texas brothel, prostitution, and political scandal into a broadly staged musical comedy.
Melvin P. Thorpe’s televised exposé places the Chicken Ranch and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd under political pressure.
Mona Stangley and Ed Earl Dodd must navigate their long relationship while defending the ranch from closure.
The Chicken Ranch, county authorities, football traditions, governors, and good ol’ boy politics shape the film’s comic world.
Films like The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and why
The Blues Brothers
Broad musical comedy, theatrical performances, and affectionate regional satire
Cannery Row
Adult musical comedy built around a controversial business and flamboyant ensemble characters
Nine to Five
Southern-set comedy with sexual politics, eccentric personalities, and heightened showmanship
Movie Details
- Director
- Colin Higgins
- Release Date
- 1982-07-23
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (188)
Cast
- Dolly Parton
- Burt Reynolds
- Dom DeLuise
- Charles Durning
- Jim Nabors
- Robert Mandan
- Lois Nettleton
- Theresa Merritt
- Noah Beery Jr.
- Raleigh Bond
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas about?
- A bawdy Texas musical comedy pits a beloved brothel, its protective sheriff, and their fragile romance against a televised moral crusade.
- What is The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
- What did critics think of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas?
- Critics broadly found the film uneven and often dull, while acknowledging occasional bright performances and comic supporting turns.
- Which films are like The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas?
- Films with a similar feel include The Blues Brothers, Cannery Row, and Nine to Five.
- How long is The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas?
- The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas?
- In United States, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
