The Frisco Kid (1979)

57% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(6,277 ratings)

Robert Aldrich returns to the western-spoof genre he'd previously explored in Four for Texas with The Frisco Kid. Gene Wilder plays Polish rabbi Avram Belinsky, who intends to set up a congregation in San Francisco. Eminently unsuited for life in the Old West, poor Avram is victimized by everyone… More Robert Aldrich returns to the western-spoof genre he'd previously explored in Four for Texas with The Frisco Kid. Gene Wilder plays Polish rabbi Avram Belinsky, who intends to set up a congregation in San Francisco. Eminently unsuited for life in the Old West, poor Avram is victimized by everyone with whom he comes in contact. Salvation arrives in the unlikely form of taciturn bank robber Tommy (Harrison Ford). Incredibly, Tommy takes a liking to the feckless Avram, and together the two men embark on a series of seriocomic adventures. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: Robert Aldrich
Written By: Michael Elias, Frank Shaw
Genres: Western, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 13, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Feb 14, 2006
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Jordan Hiller, Bangitout.com
The Frisco Kid is, all pratfalls and tuchus jokes aside, the quintessential "Torah "movie.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Absurd Western spoof, that relies almost solely on its ethnic brand of humor to get over.
Clint Morris, Mediasharx
Aldrich's film is a timeless classic with a bevy of super performances.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the movie is mostly amusing and sometimes joyous...it's hard not to like.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The Frisco Kid made me laugh several times and smile often... I'd say that makes it at least a mildly successful film and a fairly enjoyable one, too.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Robert Aldrich's penultimate film is an easygoing work of some considerable charm that relies far too much on ethnic humor to sit quite as comfortably as it might like.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Cute but forgettable Western comedy.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Ethnic comedy-western with good Wilder-Ford chemistry
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The Frisco Kid works thanks to Gene Wilder's jaunty, sweet and convincing triumph of comic bravado.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Funny, it's not. Sometimes stereotypically offensive, it is.

Read all 10 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

Phil H

So what do you think? Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder? good action flick combination? good 'Indy/Star Wars' mixed with the Mel Brooks regular? haha well I didn't believe it either but this is the first time I heard that these classic stars were teamed together in a flick,… More
So what do you think? Harrison Ford and Gene Wilder? good action flick combination? good 'Indy/Star Wars' mixed with the Mel Brooks regular? haha well I didn't believe it either but this is the first time I heard that these classic stars were teamed together in a flick, talk about unusual double team! This is your charming gentle and good natured Wilder film with plenty of silly laughs and visual gags plus allot of heart with a nice happy ending to make you feel good :) I can't really say anything bad about this film as it doesn't take itself seriously and is so good natured, just like Wilder himself, it just makes you smile. Wilder the Polish Rabbi and Indy err I mean Ford is the dashing scoundrel of a bank robber who are both pitted together on a trip to Californian in the old west whilst avoiding the law. The plot is very similar to other films with Wilder as again he is wrongly accused/mistaken for a crime he didn't commit in this film and thus allot of wide eyed lunacy occurs hehe Can't go wrong with Gene Wilder you really can't, yes the film is soppy but its just classic golden comedy from a master.
AJ V

This isn't a very well known comedy, but it's very funny and it was interesting to see Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford working together in a movie. If you like either of them, I recommend seeing this movie, it's fun.
Dean M

An okay western, but funny of a feisty team - rabbi (Gene Wilder) and bank robber (my favourite idol, Harrison Ford).
Lafe F

A great comedy Western with a funny Rabbi (Gene Wilder) seeking the protection of an gunslinging outlaw (Harrison Ford), for a journey from Philadelphia to San Francisco. They run into lots of perils and adventures along the scenic way. A great unlikely buddy picture in the grizzled… More
A great comedy Western with a funny Rabbi (Gene Wilder) seeking the protection of an gunslinging outlaw (Harrison Ford), for a journey from Philadelphia to San Francisco. They run into lots of perils and adventures along the scenic way. A great unlikely buddy picture in the grizzled west.

Cast

            Gene Wilder as Avram Belinsky

            Harrison Ford as Tommy

            Ramon Bieri as Mr. Jones

            Val Bisoglio as Chief Gray Cloud

            William Smith as Matt Diggs

            George DiCenzo as Darryl Diggs

            Penny Peyser as Rosalie

            Jack Somack as Samuel Bender

            Beege Barkett as Sarah Mindl

            Shay Duffin as O'Leary

            John Bleifer as First Rabbi

            Clyde Kusatsu as Mr. Ping

            Léo L. Fuchs as Chief Rabbi

            Martin Garner as Rabbi

            Larry Gelman as Rabbi

            Walter Janowitz
            
            Joe Kapp as Monterano

            Richard Kennedy as Cowboy #2

            Karl Lukas as Bartender

            Eda Reiss Merin as Mrs. Bender

            Robert Padilla as Medicine Man

            Clifford A. Pellow
            
            Henry Rowland as 1st Farmer (Amish Man)

            Rolfe Sedan as Rabbi

            John Steadman as Booking Agent

            Ian Wolfe as Father Joseph

            Michael Elias as Rabbi

            Allan Rich as Mr. Bialik

            Alex Romero as Wild Old Man

            Vincent Schiavelli as Brother Bruno
See full cast