User Reviews

This is a rather naughty little film, with a lot of Goldie Hawn on view at times. It is however done with such a lovely sense of fun and mischief that my kids and I watched it many times with great enjoyment.

Goldie sings some fun songs - including one about fruit, naughty fruit - and goes adventuring across the Old West in the company - at times - of the handsome and talented George Segal. [My favourite GS film, this one!] There are some sidesplitting scenes - for both audience and Goldie's clothes - and there is a very well-trained horse.

Best of all is the running gag! - How many times did you....? - Including this time? Once!

I use it all the time!!!

I first saw this film when I was about 10 & thought it was a great film. Saw that it had been recently released on DVD & decided to take a trip down memory lane to see if Goldie was as hot in the movie as I remembered......she was. The film starts off pretty funny & moves along at a good pace. Some good gags, some good dialogue & a bit of slapstick. But what I think lets the film down is the finale. It just peters out & is a bit of a damp squib.

George Segal & Goldie Hawn work well together & I'm surprised they didn't do anything else together. All in all an enjoyable little film...if only for Goldie Hawns dance routines.

1976 was probably a crucial year in gauging the status of the Western as a feasible Hollywood film genre: apart from well-regarded titles like THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES and THE RETURN OF A MAN CALLED HORSE, you had to contend with some notorious flops, of both the art-house – Robert Altman's BUFFALO BILL AND THE INDIANS OR, SITTING BULL'S HISTORY LESSON and Arthur Penn's THE MISSOURII BREAKS – and the spoof – THE DUCHESS AND THE DIRTWATER FOX and THE GREAT SCOUT AND CATHOUSE THURSDAY (which I've yet to catch up with) – variety. The star rating I gave to the film in question is an indication that it wasn't, in fact, as disastrous as contemporary (and even more recent, in view of its release on DVD) reviews would have you believe and I'd say it's even worthy of earning a place in my collection…which should, of course, imply that it has rewatchability value.

Goldie Hawn, George Segal and his amiably clumsy horse Blackjack are practically the whole show here and this is clearly one of those movies which rely heavily on the charisma (or lack thereof) of its leads for its success or otherwise. The screenplay does have some good lines – including an amusingly protracted stagecoach conversation (supposedly in French) between the two stars which actually incorporates slangy English, French, Italian, Spanish and some Latin, too – but the plot is rather too thin to sustain the film's length. Hawn is a saloon entertainer/hooker with ideas above her station: she gets to wear tarty outfits, sing a bawdy song in an English accent and board the aforementioned stagecoach to become "The Duchess" of the title, an English governess to a host of kids borne by a wealthy Mormon; on the other hand, Segal is a luckless womanizing cardsharp who keeps getting caught cheating and finding himself at the wrong end of the noose; he eventually manages to abscond with $40,000 in stolen loot to the eternal chagrin of a ramshackle band of outlaws. The bag containing the money changes owners more often than these characters take a bath and, along the way, Hawn and Segal finally make love aboard a canoe approaching some deadly rapids, take refuge in a Jewish wedding ceremony and are bound together and left to roast under the baking desert sun. The change in mood towards the end – where Segal is repeatedly shot in the final confrontation with the gang – is far from smoothly handled but the open-ended conclusion nevertheless manages to end the film on a lighter note.

Supposedly a Western, romantic-comedy, this film fails on most levels. Oh, it's not that it's that bad. It's not terrible. It's even mildly amusing in spots. But it had a great deal of promise, and didn't fulfill any of it. George Segal was trying to come off as the lovable rogue, but succeeded only in the rogue part. His character was crooked and churlish. Goldie Hawn did what she did (and still does) best: peg the needle on the cute-o-meter. Her character was pretty non-admirable as well, a prostitute and a con artist. At least the photography of the Colorado countryside was nice, and the direction was unobtrusive. I remember liking this film in the distant past, but a recent viewing made me wonder why. Check it out to see Goldie look cute, but don't expect anything more.

"The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" is a fairly good film. It's a cross between classic Hollywood and the then more contemporary comedy stylings that were coming into vogue in the late 60s and 70s. That is to say the humor is blue, and less suggestive than it is explicit, yet at the same time very smart. And perhaps because of this the film's tone is probably a little misunderstood.

Even though the film was shot widescreen there's a definite TV budget feel about it. There's more coverage than can be expected from a made for TV film, but the shots themselves are typically those used in non-theatrical productions, giving the film a kind of uneven feel.

For what the film is the humor is pretty sophisticated, which I think has some of the other commentators (specifically those who gave negative reviews) a bit confused. For a comedy that opens with a dance hall scene laden with sexual innuendo one might not expect the gags to be as sophisticated as they are. A viewer might get the impression that the humor will be blue, but not just blue, but explicitly blue. But that's not the case here. The humor, though suggestive and occasionally profane, is actually pretty smart, and on that score is actually quite funny. Now, if you can accept all that, and like your humor with lots of wit, then this film should entertain. In short the humor is smarter than one would expect. You have to approach watching this film with kind of mindset to really enjoy it :-)

If I had one gripe with the film it'd be the ending. As climatic as it was it felt a little flat and open ended. It's also a bit implausible, even for a comedy, but a film like this really needs a happy ending... of sorts. On that score the ending should've been a little more plausible, but it is what it is.

If you like your films smart, then try not to be too swayed by the negative comments, and give the film a chance by renting it once. It's not a film that has a lot of big sight-gags, but there's enough here that should entertain.

Enjoy :-)

This is an amusing and funny western comedy romp with two great comedian actors : George Segal and Goldie Hawn. Once upon a time, if the rustlers didn't get you , the hustlers did , dealing with a frontier hooker : Goldie Hawn and a saddle tramp : George Segal attempting to make a buck in the Old West, as they form a charming couple of experts . Both of whom join forces to deceive , rob and swindle to unfortunate people . The Wild Wild West has never been funnier ! The most likeable pair of rogues I have met since Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid ! Together , they'll show you how the West was Fun ! A card up his sleeve . A noose around his neck . It's George Segal as the Dirtwater Fox . A wiggle in her lips. Larceny in heart of gold . It's Goldie Hawn as the Duchess . He starts out as a simple card-sharp and ends up with 40.000 dollars , three bullet holes , and the only saloon-dancing Duchess in the West !

This Western-comedy romp clicks here and there , getting entertaining moments and to have fun enough . Period Western strung together with several attempts at humor , all about a musical-hall dancer who meets a bumbling shark on the make . Well played by a very sympathetic duo , George Segal and Goldie Hawn , both of them are frankly good . Being assisted by an acceptable but little known support cast , such as : Conrad Janis , Thayer David, Jennifer Pryor and brief appearance by Richard Farnsworth as a stage coach driver , among others .

It contains an evocative and colorful cinematograhy by Joseph F. Biroc who photographed various Robert Aldrich films . As well as lively and jolly score by Charles Fox with plenty of musical background from dance hall numbers performed by Goldie Hawn who sings a number of attractive songs . The motion picture was professionally directed by Melvin Frank, though it has some failures , gaps and flaws . Frank was a fine writer/producer/director who made various films of all kinds of genres with penchant for comedy . As Melvin directed the following ones : "Lost and found" , "Court jester" , "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" , "Touch of Class" , "Walk like a man" , and his most successful movie was : "The Front" starred by Woody Allen . Rating : 6/10 . Passable and acceptable Western comedy , though neither extraordinary , nor notable , but decent . The flick will appeal to Goldie Hawn and George Segal fans .

A half-decade after "Laugh-In" and a half-decade before "Private Benjamin," Goldie Hawn reveals that she not only has beautiful thighs (which the director takes very opportunity to remind us) but that she can act. Hawn herself takes every opportunity to develop a well-rounded character given a script that doesn't invite it - she exhibits a wide range of responses that the director doesn't really ask of any other actor.

Otherwise, the film is a confused mess. Beautiful location photography, and not much else. The story-line is a real jumble. If I cared about the characters I might have invested more in following it, but there's no reason to care about these lowlives, they have no direction and no motivation beyond greed.

At one point George Segal squeezes Hawn's breasts publicly and exclaims 'honk honk!" First, this is anachronistic (it references automobile horns not yet in use in the movie's culture), second, it is degrading, and third - most importantly - it is not funny. It needs a "topper," some remark that would give it comedic relevance. Director Frank's attempt at a topper is for Segal to repeat the line twice. I am not amused.

A botched job, only interesting for Hawn fans.

A great western and comedy movie. This movie first seems like one of those old boring westerns but when you get into it I mean you get into it!! Goldie Hawn is great in a role she normally wouldn't play. I suggest you rent this movie and try to watch it all the way through.

There's a tragic air about this putrid film, and the reason is simple: it STINKS like a Dead Possum! The comedic talents of Goldie Hawn and George Segal are wasted miserably on a poor script with thoroughly unlikeable characters (Goldie plays a mean-spirited, bar room whore -- who's bright idea was THAT??? -- and George is a cranky card shark who seems to really need a bath). What should have been a rollicking hour-and-a-half of wisecracks and bellylaughs is instead an embarrassment. The film's jokes are lousy and the tone is uneven -- it's a mixed up mess as it jumps from trying to be clever, to exciting, to funny, and even to romantic -- and nary a bullseye in the bunch. Every shot is misfired. Nuthin' but rotten eggs. And it all seems "thrown together"... The result is a film that's just a horrible bore. Just when you think it won't get worse, there is a "love scene" (in a boat going down a river) during which the most vomitably maudlin of movie songs kicks in, "Lemon Drops, Lollipops and Sunbeams" (I kid you not about that title. And if the title isn't cloying enough, you should only HEAR how sickly sweet this tune is! Oi Vei!!!)...to add insult to injury, the song reprises itself over the end credits, as if sounding once in the film wasn't punishment enough for a weary audience. When you hear it again, it's like a bad smell that you thought you'd escaped only to find you've run across it again...I can't give this film low enough marks. It takes "mediocrity" to new lows. And that's because this film isn't even the kind of "bad" that's fun to watch (and heckle). It's Just BAD. Painfully BAD. Hawn and Segal have both proven their merit as comic talents many, many times over in various funny films (Hawn in "Foul Play" and Segal in "Where's Poppa?" just to name two). "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" must be a project they would both rather forget... I know I wish I could!

Goldie Hawn teams up with George Segal in this comedy western about a card shark and a dance hall girl who end up on the trail together, chasing a valise with $40,000 hidden in the bottom of it. The trouble is that the guys that Segal stole it from while they were in the process of stealing it want it back and are hot on their trail.

When this movie first came out, I was only about 12 years old, so, for obvious reasons, my parents never let me see this show when it first came out. But I feel like I can get on the phone, call my mother and thank her for not letting me waste my time in watching this. I'm a fan of Hawn, but not that big of a fan.

There's no chemistry between the stars. In fact, I think Segal had more chemistry with the horse in this film. Maybe BLACKJACK should have gotten top billing over Hawn, because all she ended up being was fluff and a bit of eye candy (very little bit, that is).

3 out of 10 stars.

This movie is a treat from start to finish. Fantastic writing is the main reason why, and terrific character actors at every turn. Not quite as bawdy, but reminiscent of Blazing Saddles in its depiction of the Wild West - I mean, one of the funniest characters is BlackJack, George Segal's loyal steed.

Highly recommended for laughing out loud - a real gem - can't wait for the DVD.

Don't be afraid to show it to the kid's either, just a bit of language to manage, but otherwise, funny for almost all ages. Wish Segal and Hawn had done more work together - a great team!

Enjoy!!

The last time I watched "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" I really didn't like it. Tonight I still didn't really like it but I didn't like it a little less. It's not a funny movie. It's an almost funny movie. It has a million PG-style dirty jokes. I don't think I laughed once. (I may have smiled here or there, I don't remember.) It's also a fifteen minutes too long. On the plus side it has a very good cast, including the always likable Goldie Hawn and George Segal. Those two in the 1970s were pretty hard to beat. I had written "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" off but now I'm willing to give it another chance. Just not right away.

Saw this in the theaters when I was like 10. I snuck in after watching The Bad News Bears I think, and even then I knew this movie stunk. Watching it now coincidentally on the same day I pay my cable bill is like soap in my eye. I've asked this question many times, but What were people thinking back then? I mean how can you even throw a movie like this together? Don't the performers and producers know how bad it is? Maybe this is the kind of stuff you learn only after you die. As viewing films like this brings me ever nearer to death, perhaps I haven't long to wait. One final note, this film's movie poster contains a startling example of sexual subliminal placement. Check it out, if you glance quickly, or stare at it long enough, Goldies elbow is actually photographed for your brain to see a bare b***t. But the movie still stinks.

OK, so the movie stinks. But I too saw this as a young boy when it was new in the theatres and I have to admit the thing I remember was Goldie - truly lovely and sexy, and dressed up in all manner of provocative attire to entice the simple folk in the film. If you're a Goldie fan, and like me believe she's an inspiringly sexy creature, you'll want to at least survey this curio. Goldie in fishnets and skimpy dancehall costumes can't be ALL bad!

"The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" came out in 1976, a year after Mel Brooks's "Blazing Saddles". If "Blazing Saddles" is a spoof Western- probably the best-known one- then I would categorise "The Duchess..." as a comedy Western. The difference is that a spoof Western deliberately sets out to parody or satirise the conventions of the genre, whereas a comedy Western is merely a comedy set in the Old West without the same element of satire. The distinction is not, however, a hard-and-fast one, and "The Duchess..." does contain some scenes which seem to parody Western conventions; the stagecoach journey, for example, was clearly inspired by similar scenes in serious Westerns such as "Stagecoach" or "Hombre".

The story is set in the 1880s. Charlie Malloy, aka "the Dirtwater Fox", is a professional San Francisco gambler and card-sharp. Amanda Quaid, aka "Bluebird", is a prostitute and dance hall entertainer. (For the sake of convenience I will refer to her as "Amanda" in this review, even though this name and the surname Quaid only appear in the cast list and are never actually used in the dialogue). She acquires the alternative nickname "The Duchess" when she poses as an English aristocrat as part of a scheme to obtain a job as governess to the children of a wealthy Mormon family. (The joke is that the American-born Amanda spends a lot of time pretending to be British- she even performs her music hall act in a faux-Cockney accent- but has never been to Britain and does not know much about the country. If she did she would realise how unlikely it would be for a British Duchess, drawn from the top rank of the aristocracy, to be offering her services as a governess in San Francisco. Fortunately for her, her prospective employer is no more knowledgeable about the British class system than she is).

The plot is a fairly complicated one, and I will not set out a full synopsis. It revolves around a satchel of money which Charlie has stolen from the Bloodworth Gang, a band of bank robbers, and which is then stolen from him by Amanda. Eventually the two are forced to team up in order to outwit the ruthless Bloodworth Gang, a process which inevitably ends with their falling in love.

The stars of the film are Goldie Hawn and George Segal, both practised comedy veterans, and both are in good form here. Especially Goldie. She hasn't been able to save every comedy she has been in- the dreadful "Protocol" is an example of one of her failures- but she has had more hits than misses, and here she brings enough of her brand of mock innocence and cheeky charm to her part to persuade us to overlook Amanda's sleazy past. The script is, for the most part, not as sharp as that of "Blazing Saddles", but it is generally amusing enough, and there are occasionally some very funny scenes. (I liked the one where Charlie and Amanda converse in that strange mixture of foreign languages). I have ended up giving the two films the same mark, largely because Brooks's otherwise strong film is let down by a weak ending. 7/10.

Bad acting, bad script, just about bad everything...including Goldie, who I normally like. If you're into seeing Goldie in skimpy clothing or nice Colorado location shots, it might be worth it. Otherwise, stay away.

The 'comedy' western is a bit like a situation comedy with horses and six shooters thrown in and a bit of action in case the laughs are thin on the ground. and in this movie the laughs (and the thrills) are as thin on the ground as grass in a desert.

George Segal tries hard in the 'lovable rogue' lead - a sort of bargain basement 'Maverick' but he is undercut by a poor script and the millstone of Goldie Hawn - who does little beyond flash her red undies at the camera at every opportunity as if this might distract the viewer from the meagre contribution she makes to the movie.

This is the West That Never Was beloved of peddlers of cliche and writers of cheap 1960's and 70's TV series, with the intendedly humourously amoral lead duo pursued about a pretty landscape by the gang that couldn't shoot straight and sundry other less than menacing foes.

Notable is the lack of 'name' supporting players any of whom might have upstaged Ms Hawn by showing comedic talent, rather than legs.

Rating: A sonorous 3 out of 10

When I had a chance to watch this one, I already had a appreciation for Goldie Hawn. When I finished this film, all I could appreciate in it was Goldie.

The comedy was strained at best, mostly terrible. The cast around Goldie is not much support. This film makes many of her other films look much better. I do not understand what about this script caused it to be made.

Comedy Westerns had been a vehicle for many Hollywood stars and comedy teams since the 1940's. I understand for this reason why it was made. What I don't understand is why they waste Goldie Hawns Talent with a terrible script. Pee Wee's Playhouse has a better script than this.

One thing though, Goldie was a much sexier woman when she was young than her daughter is now. The best scenes in this movie are the ones exploiting that charisma. The rest of it is a sleeper, literally.

Although the music may be a little dated now, I believe any fun-minded viewer will find this offering to be a thoroughly enjoyable romp.

George Segal and Goldie Hawn are at their best and deliver one delightful comic situation after another, much like, and in my opinion, better than, Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster in the also enjoyable but more recent "Maverick." I wouldn't be surprised if Mel and Jodie, not to mention the "Maverick" producers, wisely drew on this film for inspiration as the chemistry is interchangeable between the two movies.

One of many moments not to be forgotten is in the excellent turn of Conrad Janis as the blissfully unaware mark or the sidesplitting pig-Latin (pig-German?) argument Hawn and Segal develop in his presence.

I would very much like to see this film again and so will you.

Just watched the movie on TV last night (8/21/06). I've seen better, I've seen worse but I did keep watching. I would like to find out the name of the song and where I can get it if possible of the tune that was played while Goldie and George were at the Jewish wedding. If anyone is out there that could help me with the song - that's really what I would like to have. As for purchasing the movie, I probably will not do that. The 10 line minimum is getting to me as I really don't have a whole lot more to say about the movie. I would really have liked to cut to the chase. The movie even on TV had language that wasn't necessary. I am still a fan of older movies. Also there were some funny scenes in the movie. It's nice to see a lot of the character actors as well.

Breezy little throwaway musical (well Goldie reprises her saucy music hall number several times) rom-com, wild west setting. Segal is the said Dirtwater Fox, a preofessional card shark, Hahn in the guise of the Duchess to affect respectability when she's actually a saloon dancer/hooker. Goldie efferveces with luscious exuberance, and she and Segal have great comic chemistry, but maybe a bit too long, and the script starts to repeat itself where brevity would have been the soul of wit.

But overall a pleasant entertainment.

Most of my reviews are written on single viewings, and sometimes change with time.

Comedy western with con man Segal joining up with music hall prostitute Hawn on the run from the law and the bad guys Segal has relieved of $40,000.

Sloppy, lazy effort, relying far too much on the screen presence and chemistry of its 2 big stars than any script or story which both seem to have been made on the fly. There are one of two funny moments, but this is simply not enough.

This western comedy gets off to a smashing start: Goldie Hawn, dressed like a lascivious German barmaid, singing in a San Francisco saloon full of rowdies. It's a Marlene Dietrich bit that out-Dietrich's Madeline Kahn from "Blazing Saddles". Thin plot has a card-sharp in the Old West trying to keep vicious sidewinders from stealing his stolen loot; a dancehall girl gets there first. This is one of those comedies from the 1970s best described as 'bawdy', with some memorable moments: Hawn, pretending to be the Duchess of Swansbury, singing for a drooling Mormon; she and George Segal talking gibberish-French in a stagecoach; the couple floating down a river to the vocals of Bobby Vinton, and later getting tied to stakes in the sweltering desert. Sloppy, yet ingratiating film gets by solely on charisma and energy. It didn't find a sizable audience in theaters, though I would suspect Hawn-buffs will enjoy it on DVD. Raffish Segal also charming, and working effortlessly with his co-star. ***1/2 from ****

if you are a sucker for western romantic comedies...then none will please you more than this one. goldie hawn and george segal make a hilarious couple, fighting and sparing all the way to the love that awaits. good movie to watch with someone you love--pleases both the gals and the fellas.