I want my $200! Addie

I've been a sucker for movies about con artists ever since I saw George C. Scott in The Flim Flam Man. In 1973, Peter Bogdanovich made one of the best when he made Paper Moon.

Paper Moon stars father-daughter Ryan O'Neal and Tatum O'Neal as a pair of unlikely associates who fleece small town widows in the depression-era midwest. The film opens as Moses Pray (Ryan O'Neal), an itinerant bible salesman/con artist stops in a small town for the funeral of an old friend. The lady, who died suddenly, left an orphaned child that everyone remarks looks like Moses. They have the same jaw, they say. Addie (Tatum O'Neal) is being sent to live with relatives in St. Joseph, Missouri and since Moses is heading that way, he agrees to take her along. On the way out of town he extorts $200 out of a man whose brother killed the woman in a drunken car wreck. He claims it's for the girl. A new set of Goodyears on his flivver and they're on their way, except Addie wants the $200...

"I can't give you the $200. I don't have it any more." Moses
"Then you'll just have to get it." Addie

Moses reluctantly agrees and they ply his trade through the rural areas reading obituaries and delivering bibles supposedly ordered by the deceased - the deluxe edition - with the widow's name specially imprinted in angelic gold. He offers to refund the dollar deposit and go on his way but the grieving survivors always pay the balance due. In fact, Addie proves to be much more street smart than Moses, and shrewdly ups the price when she sees signs of affluence, while giving one away to an impoverished widow with about nine kids...

Along the way, Moses has a fling with an exotic tent show dancer, Trixie Delight, played by Madeline Kahn. Addie sees her as a threat so she torpedoes the relationship by running a con of her own with the help of Trixie's maid Imogene (PJ Johnson) and a sleazy hotel desk clerk. The duo also show how they bilk store owners out of money using age-old confidence tricks. The pair are nearly undone when they sell a bootlegger his own whiskey and are apprehended by his lookalike brother, the sheriff (John Hillerman). A trick by the quick witted Addie allows them to escape but they're not quite out of the reach of the long arm of the law...

The story and characterizations are extremely well done, with Tatum O'Neal taking home an Oscar for her performance. Ryan O'Neal's performance is as good, as is Madeline Kahn's but neither received any awards. The supporting cast was wonderful also, with John Hillerman, PJ Johnson, and Randy Quaid as stand-outs.

The recently released Paramount DVD is in 1.85:1 theatrical format which allows the viewer to see how good Peter Bogdanovich's eye for composition is. Bogdanovich used black and white film and deep focus lenses a la Orson Welles to make both foreground and background razor sharp. For my money, Paper Moon is one of the most endearing comedies to come down the pike in many a year. The DVD also contains a host of extras, including a full-length director's commentary, a making-of documentary, and a trio of featurettes. If you are a comedy fan, Paper Moon will be sure to tickle your ribs!

Fans of Peter Bogdanovich will also enjoy The Last Picture Show.

Happy viewing!



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening