The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(10,743 ratings)

The Apple Dumpling Gang stars Bill Bixby as Russell Donovan, a slick frontier gambler. In Runyon-esque fashion, he is compelled to look after three precocious oprhaned kids. He can't handle the responsibilities alone, so he agrees to an in-name-only marriage to hoydenish stagecoach driver, Magnolia… More The Apple Dumpling Gang stars Bill Bixby as Russell Donovan, a slick frontier gambler. In Runyon-esque fashion, he is compelled to look after three precocious oprhaned kids. He can't handle the responsibilities alone, so he agrees to an in-name-only marriage to hoydenish stagecoach driver, Magnolia Dusty Clydesdale (Susan Clark). Fortuitously, they discover that a mine belonging to the kids' late father is worth millions. This brings several disreputable characters into the storyline: bumbling "nice" bandits Theodore Ogelvie and Amos (Don Knotts and Tim Conway), and deadly "bad" bandits headed by Frank Stillwell (Slim Pickens). Based on a novel by Jack M. Bickham, The Apple Dumpling Gang was successful enough to spawn a sequel-not to mention several future screen teamings for Don Knotts and Tim Conway. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Norman Tokar
Written By: Jack M. Bickham, Don Tait
Genres: Western, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1975 Limited
On DVD: Sep 2, 2003
Studio: Buena Vista

Critic Reviews

Richard Eder, New York Times
Walt Disney started by making movies in which animated drawings played the parts of people or animals who stood for people. Later he turned to making movies in which people or animals play the parts of animated drawings.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Everytime I see one of these antiseptic Disney films, I'm reminded of the thrills and genuine artistry that went into the studio's films during its golden age in the 1940s and 1950s.
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Rollicking Old West ride lassos some stereotypes.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A delightful cast of character actors helps the childish story, with Conway and Knotts beginning what would become a somewhat famous, but very simple-minded, film comedy duo.
, Time Out
The traditional ingredients of homely moralising, sentimentality and raucous slapstick are used sparingly, the dialogue is fairly bright, some visual gags are neatly executed.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Few people remember anything about this movie apart from the hilarity generated by this scene-stealing duo.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

One of the best Disney movies of the decade. It's more of a family movie than just a kids movie. I especially loved Bixby in this movie, he's cute. This movie is fun, humourous, and exciting too, kids and adults will enjoy it.
danny d

good old school family fun
jay n

cute family entertainment
Leigh R

It was alright.
Jason V

The Apple Dumpling Gang is an innocent and innocuous Disney family film which doesn't have a whole lot to say and doesn't particularly care. It's concerned with being G rated fun with dopey, one dimensional characters acting like brain dead zombies rather than real… More
The Apple Dumpling Gang is an innocent and innocuous Disney family film which doesn't have a whole lot to say and doesn't particularly care. It's concerned with being G rated fun with dopey, one dimensional characters acting like brain dead zombies rather than real people. Bill Bixby, rest his soul, plays his leading man part so completely over the top I'm not quite sure he ever really understands the type of film he's in. Susan Clark is a terrible stereotype of a "western town woman"...she's tough, looks like a man and can beat up the men without a second thought. That she has any maternal instincts is remarkable. The plot is mostly aimless, moving from one slapdash point to another with little sense of flow or logic. When Harry Morgan tells townspeople to shut up, it's a breath of fresh air that someone-anyone-is being truthful in the picture.
Isaac H

Funny, smart, good acting, and lots of fun for everyone! I highly reccomend seeing it!

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Bill Bixby as Russel Donavan

            Susan Clark as Magnolia Dusty Clydesdale

            Don Knotts as Theodore Ogelvie

            Tim Conway as Amos

            David Wayne as Col. T.R. Cyldesdale

            Slim Pickens as Frank Stillwell

            John McGiver as Leonard Sharpe

            Don Knight as John Wintle

            Clay O'Brien as Bobby Bradley

            Brad Savage as Clovis Bradley

            Stacy Manning as Celia Bradley

            Iris Adrian as Poker Polly

            Wally K. Berns as Cheating Charley

            Jim Boles as Easy Archie

            James Brodhead as The Mouthpiece

            Pepe Callahan as Clemons

            Dennis Fimple as Rudy Hooks

            Richard Lee-Sung as Oh So

            Bing Russell as Herm Dally

            Fran Ryan as Mrs. Stockley

            Joshua Shelley as Broadway Phil

            Olan Soule as Rube Cluck

            Dick Winslow as Slippery Kid

            Arthur Wong Ngok Tai as No S'o

            Dawn Little Sky as Big Foot

            Tom Waters as Rowdy Joe Dover

            Harry Morgan as Homer McCoy

            Bill Dunbar as Fast Eddie Card Dealer
See full cast