Absolutely Fantastic

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

I must admit that even though I usually don't pre-judge a film, I'd already decided that The Great Scout And Cathouse Thursday was going to be pretty terrible. Surprisingly, it isn't. Not that it's particularly good either, but at least it doesn't fall horribly flat as it could so easily have done. It must have taken a mighty brave studio to have the nerve to cast hellraisers Lee Marvin and Oliver Reed in the same movie… but here they are, mugging away something rotten in this slapstick western – clearly having a good time, some of which occasionally transmits across to the audience. Oddball western character-actor Strother Martin is in there too, essaying another of his effortlessly watchable performances as a lovable eccentric.In the latter-day Wild West, oddball partners Sam Longwood (Lee Marvin), Joe Knox (Oliver Reed) and Billy (Strother Martin) spend their time drifting from one town to another getting into various misadventures. In one town, they spot their old pal Jack Colby (Robert Culp) who stole a fortune from them when they struck gold some fifteen years earlier. Since then Colby has gone on to become a pampered playboy, dipping his toes into political campaigning and promoting big sports events. Meanwhile, Sam and the boys have struggled by, making a few dollars by whatever means they can. The luckless trio decide to confront Colby and claim back their rightful money, leading to a series of increasingly madcap events in which they try to recover it. They are joined in their adventures by young prostitute Thursday (Kay Lenz), who finds herself craving an unlikely love affair with the grizzled old-timer Sam.Directed economically by workmanlike veteran Don Taylor, The Great Scout And Cathouse Thursday is amusing fun. Marvin hams things up unashamedly but is enjoyable to watch, while Reed as an educated half-breed with long hair is in full-on pantomime mode. There's a rambling shapelessness to the story which sometimes creates tedium, but these dull stretches are counterbalanced with several funny sequences and good-natured hijinks. John Cameron's score is jaunty and high-spirited throughout and adds to the general air of barnstorming light-heartedness. No-one will ever claim this film is their no.1 favourite of all-time, but it's a brisk and goofy time-filler which whiles away a couple of hours inoffensively enough. It certainly isn't the total pile of garbage that I was afraid it might be when I sat down to watch it.

In Old West Colorado during election time, a crooked politician has to deal with the ex-partners whom he double-crossed some gold out of. Screenwriter Richard Shapiro possibly managed to sell his threadbare script on the basis of its bawdy humor...but "Blazing Saddles" this is not! Shabby-looking enterprise with cheap sets and over-lit interiors does get a small boost from Lee Marvin as a cowboy con-artist. Marvin's rubbery face, exaggerated expressions and double-takes are both surprising and surprisingly funny. Oliver Reed (cast wildly against type as a half-breed Indian with VD) and Strother Martin as a wily old coot do some overplaying of their own, yet the film's energy doesn't make up for its lack of taste and general sloppiness. * from ****

This film was available from Vestron Video many years ago. You can see the whole film on HULU, but there are commercials in it. I have noticed that Hulu has a lot of MGM/UA films available for viewing. This also encompasses many Americal International titles, such as the one listed above. This film is really funny. Oliver Reed is the best as Joe, sporting his crazy antics. Lee Marvin and Strother Martin make a good comedy team. I sometimes thing this film is funnier than "Cat Ballou," There are many funny scenes to make note of, but the best one has to be the curing of the gonorrhea scene. MGM/UA should release this one on DVD.

I was 11 when I saw this in the theater...it was my first R-rated movie. (Thanks Mom!) I remember laughing to the point of tears.Years later I saw it again on TV, and part of it on cable, and it was as funny as ever. Watching it as an adult I can recognize its silliness and dated comedy, but it was still fun.Rent the un-cut version, as the swearing by some of the characters is pretty important to their personalities.