| The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Allan Moyle |
| Produced by | Sarah Bowman Robert W. Cort Ted Field Ira Halberstadt Scott Kroopf Cynthia Sherman Ray K. Morris |
| Written by | Grace Cary Bickley |
| Starring | Penelope Ann Miller Eric Thal Julianne Moore William Forsythe Alfre Woodard |
| Music by | Richard Gibbs |
| Cinematography | Charles Minsky |
| Editing by | Janice Hampton Erica Huggins |
| Studio | Interscope Communications |
| Distributed by | Touchstone Pictures |
| Release date(s) | August 12, 1992 |
| Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3,721,911 |
The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag is a 1992 American screwball comedy film written by Grace Cary Bickley and directed by Allan Moyle. The film stars Penelope Ann Miller, Eric Thal, Julianne Moore, William Forsythe, and Alfre Woodard. Rock and roll recording pioneer Cordell Jackson played a bit part as "Bathroom Woman."
The film was distributed by Touchstone Pictures for Interscope Communications.
Contents |
Betty Lou Perkins is a meek librarian and nobody pays much attention to her, in particular her husband, Alex. A criminal kingpin is killed in cold blood and Betty Lou happens to find the murder gun. She is so mousy, however, she can't even get the police to listen to her, including Alex, who's a detective. In sheer frustration, she not only produces the gun but announces that she's the one who committed the crime.
Behind bars, Betty Lou meets a variety of hardened and colorful characters. Rather than intimidate her, they actually increase her self-confidence. Once she's released, she begins to dress, speak, and act differently. Unfortunately for her, criminal acquaintances of the victim assume that she must have confessed to the murder for a reason. They conclude that she must be his mistress, and soon the bad guys want a few words with her...or worse.
Entertainment Weekly, reviewing the film when it was released in home video, gave the film a D+ and called it a "foolish farce."[1] The British film magazine Empire gave it (three stars out of five), calling it "watchable" and noting "Miller is a winning heroine" but characterizing the film as "too busy to be really funny."[2] The Austin Chronicle gave it (two stars out of five): "The cast shines in The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag; watching these performers, you know this movie would have made for an inspired farce given better writing and direction."[3]
Mill Creek Entertainment released the film in DVD and Blu-ray format in May 2011.[4]
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