The Apple Dumpling Gang (film)

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The Apple Dumpling Gang
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by	Norman Tokar
Produced by	Bill Anderson
Written by	Don Tait
Starring	Tim Conway Don Knotts
Music by	Buddy Baker
Cinematography	Frank V. Phillips
Editing by	Ray de Leuw
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution Company
Release date(s)	July 1, 1975
Running time	100 min.
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Followed by	The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Apple Dumpling Gang is a 1975 Disney film about slick gambler Russel Donovan (played by Bill Bixby) who is duped into taking care of a group of orphan children who eventually strike gold during the California Gold Rush.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Jack Bickham. The eponymous gang is named after the American dessert, the apple dumpling. Buddy Baker composed the music for it and its sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.

1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Reception
4 Sequel
5 External link

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

It also stars Tim Conway and Don Knotts as a team of bumbling gangsters who try to steal the gold, but later are offered the gold by the children. The film also stars Susan Clark as the stagecoach driver who is forced to marry the gambler in an attempt for both of them to keep custody of the children; Harry Morgan as the sheriff who doubles as the barber and justice of the peace; and Slim Pickens as Knotts' and Conway's former boss who tries to kidnap both the children and the gold.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Cast

Tim Conway as Gangster Amos Tucker
Don Knotts as Gangster Theodore Ogelvie
Harry Morgan as Sherriff Homer McCoy
John McGiver as Leonard Sharpe
Bill Bixby as Mr. Russel Donovan
Susan Clark as Magnolia 'Dusty' Clydesdale
David Wayne as Col. T.R. Clydesdale
Slim Pickens as Frank Stillwell
Dennis Fimple as Rudy Hooks
Iris Adrian as Poker Polly
Don Knight as John Wintle
Stacy Manning as Celia Bradley
Clay O'Brien as Bobby Bradley
Brad Savage as Clovis Bradley
Pepe Callahan as Clemons

[edit] Reception

The film was a hit at the box office. In October 1980, it became one of the first Disney movies to be released on video cassette. It is also known as being the first film to feature the comedy duo of Knotts and Conway. Knotts and Conway developed different styles of pulling off their comedy. Conway's characters were usually the dumber of the two, which made Knotts usually the brains of the group.

[edit] Sequel

In 1979, Knotts and Conway reprised their roles in the unsuccessful sequel The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. Without the magic of Bixby, Clark, and the three children, the film was not a success. Knotts and Conway would team up for two more films together (both independent films), The Prize Fighter in 1979, and The Private Eyes. They were also in Gus released in 1976, even though they did not share any scenes together (Tom Bosley) was Conway's foil in that movie).