''Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins'' is a 1975 American

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

film directed by

Dick Richards Dick Richards (born 1936) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Known as a storyteller and an “actor’s director”, Richards worked with Robert Mitchum, Gene Hackman, Martin Sheen, Blythe Danner, Catherine Deneuve, Al ...

and written by John Kaye. The film was the second film credit for

Jerry Bruckheimer Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1943) is an American film and television Film producer, producer. He has been active in the genres of Action film, action, Drama film, drama, Fantasy film, fantasy, and Science fiction film, science fi ...

, who was an associate producer. The film features the song "

Honky Tonk Angels ''Honky Tonk Angels'' is a collaborative studio album by Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. It was released on November 2, 1993, by Columbia Records. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on January 5, 1994, for sales of 500,000 c ...

", performed by lead actress

Sally Kellerman Sally Clare Kellerman (June 2, 1937 – February 24, 2022) was an American actress and singer whose acting career spanned 60 years. Her role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in Robert Altman's film ''M*A*S*H'' (1970) earned her an Oscar no ...

Plot

Idiotic, alcoholic driving instructor and former Marine Corps sergeant Rafferty (

Alan Arkin Alan Wolf Arkin (born March 26, 1934) is an American actor, director and screenwriter known for his performances on stage and screen. Throughout his career spanning over six decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award ...

) lives in poverty near Hollywood, California. He allows two young female hitchhikers (

and Mackenzie Phillips), one an aspiring singer, to kidnap him who are seeking to reach New Orleans. He eventually enjoys their company, and the three take a road trip to Las Vegas and end up in Tucson, Arizona, with many misadventures and scams to finance their trip along the way.

Cast

Release

This film was released in the UK on 20 March 1977 as a double bill with Michael Apted's cult film '' The Squeeze''.

Critical reception

The film received favorable reviews at the time. Richard F. Shepard of ''The New York Times'' stated: ''Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins'' passes the time pleasantly enough...several belly laughs and lots of chuckles.Original New York Times Review
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References

External links