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Cast

Burt Reynolds
as Sheriff

Dolly Parton
as Mona Stangley

Dom DeLuise
as Melvin

Charles Durning
as Governor

Jim Nabors
as Deputy Fred

Robert Mandan
as Sen. Wingwood

Lois Nettleton
as Dulcie Mae

Theresa Merritt
as Jewel

Noah Beery Jr.
as Edsel

Raleigh Bond
as Mayor

Barry Corbin
as C.J.

Ken Magee
as Mansel

Mary Jo Catlett
as Rita

Mary Louise Wilson
as Modene

Howard K. Smith
as Himself

Stanley DeSantis

Paula Shaw
as Wulla Jean

Lee Ritchie
as Governor's Aide

Alice Drummond
as Governor's Secretary

Lily Mariye
as Chicken Ranch Girl

Terri Robinson
as Chicken Ranch Girl

Karyn Harrison
as Chicken Girl

Terri Treas
as Chicken Ranch Girl

Randy Bennet
as Privates Boy

Melanie Winter
as Chicken Ranch Girl

Stephen Bray
as Aggie

Jeff Calhoun
as Aggie

David Engel
as Aggie

Joe Hart
as Aggie

Jerry Mitchell
as Aggie

Kevin Ryan (II)
as Aggie

Tim Topper
as Aggie

Arnetia Walker
as Dogette

John Walter Davis
as Melvin's Crew

Gregory Itzin
as Melvin's Crew

Tim Stack
as Melvin's Crew

Larry B. Williams
as Melvin's Crew

Harvey Christiansen
as Old Farmer

Helen Kleeb
as Dora

Mickey Jones
as Henry

Bobby Fite
as Dulcie Mae's Son

Kenneth White
as Sheriff Jack Roy

Ted Gehring
as Sheriff Chapman

Wayne Heffley
as TV Station Manager

Lee Ritchey
as Governor's Aide

Randy Bennett
as Privates Boy

John Edson
as Male Reporter

Robert Ginnaven
as Male Reporter

Suzi McLaughlin
as Female Reporter

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Critic Reviews for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Audience Reviews for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

• Dec 04, 2012

  This musical might not have the best songs in the world, and doesn't show it's subject matter in a believable or realistic light, but it sure is fun and entertaining. Reynolds and Parton are a fantastic couple onscreen, as surprising as it sounds. The rest of the cast is made up of funny people and great dancers. The ending was the best part for me, it was the most realistic part of the movie and very emotional.
  Aj V Super Reviewer
• Oct 15, 2012

  First off, this film is in no way perfect. It's actually quite mind boggling if you watch it, because you sincerely wonder what the thought process was behind making this film. It isn't a bad concept or even a less than entertaining one, but it's just so haphazard and deliberately strange that to put it on the big screen doesn't make any sense, to me at least. This film pulled in the most money at the box office for a musical in the eighties, and led to an Oscar nomination for Charles Durning as the Texan Governor. It features the incomparable voice of Dolly Parton, who wrote several songs herself, including her already highly lauded "I Will Always Love You," later to be covered by Whitney Houston in The Body Guard. The songs are pretty catchy and it's very enjoyable to see some down home Southern stereotypes milked to showcase the same airy performances we've seen a thousand times already. What isn't enjoyable is the casting for some of these parts. Burt Reynolds singing alongside a Madame while only wearing a blanket as a bottom? Bandit, you're better than that. And Dom DeLuise what in tarnation were you thinking? Wearing a bowl cut wig, and cha-chaing around in the most obscene outfits while singing about promiscuity? You belong in a Mel Brooks film, sticking out your tush and cha-chaing there! The only person perfectly suited seems to be Jim Nabors as a cloddish sheriff's deputy reminiscent of Barney Fife. Durning gives a very off color and yet highly entertaining turn as the governor but didn't deserve an Oscar nomination for his less than ten minutes screen time. I think the Academy was just surprised to see the negotiator from Dog Day Afternoon sing about corruption and dance a little side step. What is truly strange is the use of sex as a vehicle to move the plot along, though it's pretty tame when it comes to the music and showing the town of simple Southern folk in contrast. There could have been a lot subtler and less errant ways of showing promiscuity and prostitution than throwing in several shots of the women's bits as it were. Even more troubling is that though they do go the distance with the nudity it ends in a morality tale, which is so bedrift of sense that it ends remotely anticlimactic. It's not the worst musical ever, but it's a pain to sit through; Sodom and Gomorrah it is not.
  Spencer S Super Reviewer
• Aug 09, 2012

  This was a fun and funny (albeit cheesy) comedy musical. I loved Dom Deluise and Jim Nabors in this especially!
  Sarah P Super Reviewer
• Oct 23, 2009

  I HATE ALL musicals except for this 1 so I did not expect to like this movie but I did
  Brody M Super Reviewer

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