The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)

Country: USA
Director: Norman Tokar
Production Co: Buena Vista Distribution Company
Genre: Comedy, Western
Rating: 6.5/10
Length: 100 mins

Storyline

Three orphaned siblings are forced upon confirmed bachelor Donovan (Bill Bixby) in a nineteenth century boom town of Quake City, California. After an earthquake shakes the area, the children find a large gold nugget worth tens of thousands of dollars. But their newfound wealth is causing more problems than it's solving, so they agree to "give" the gold to two bumbling outlaws (Tim Conway and Don Knott's). But they only way they can get the gold is to steal it from the bank vault where it's being held for safe keeping.—Tony B

Plot Keywords

orphan, gambler, stagecoach driver, bandit, murderer, sheriff, playful, endearing, spirited, bank, mine, boomtown, house, stagecoach, hidden treasure, inheritance, greed, marriage of convenience, family dysfunction, bank robbery, adventure, discovery, growing up, 1870s

Short Review

The traditional ingredients of homely moralising, sentimentality and raucous slapstick are used sparingly, the dialogue is fairly bright, some visual gags are neatly executed.