The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 17, 2016

For a movie that ran afoul of some controversy back when it was released in 1982 -- the word "whorehouse" wasn't exactly well-received in some areas -- its title has become almost ubiquitous, or at least some variation thereof. Most anywhere one will find some not-so-thinly-veiled reference to The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. There's "The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas" to name one, "The Best Little Hairhouse in (insert almost any city/town here)" and plenty of other spins on the classic film title. If nothing else, the movie's legacy lives on if only for its title and practically regal positioning in common vernacular. But is there more to the movie than its name? Sure. Some of the tunes are catchy, the performances by-and-large fun, and the movie gleefully silly, but it's not exactly an out-and-out classic. Though rather tepid, truth be told, in its depiction of sexuality, small town politics, and ethical clashes, it's held up well enough as a modestly unique film, brought to the screen on the heels of a hit Broadway show that was itself inspired by real-life events that unfolded in the little town of La Grange, Texas, about an hour's drive southeast of Austin.

The sheriff and the madame.

Tucked away a mile outside of the city limits of the small Texas town of Gilbert is an old-fashioned whorehouse that's served soldiers from two world wars, survived a depression, and is on its second owner. Mona Stangley (Dolly Parton) runs the outfit, and it's something of a town staple and, in its own way, Texas treasure (its girls annually service the winners of the annual A&M-UT football game, for instance). It has the support of the local sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd (Burt Reynolds). The place isn't exactly a second town square, but there's a live-and-let-live understanding between the house and the community. That all changes when a television watchdog named Melvin P. Thorpe (Dom DeLuise) catches wind of the place and turns it into a statewide scandal. Now, with the winds shifting against the whorehouse's existence, Mona and Ed must put up a fight to maintain the status quo or leave most every man in Gilbert, and many beyond her borders, looking elsewhere for intimate companionship.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ain't about no sex. No siree, this here's a big good old fashioned Texas Musical with a bunch of a hootin' and a hollerin', a bit of skin, and a whole lot of small town Texas politicin' and policin'. In all seriousness, the film really isn't concerned with how the deed is done at the house. It is, however, a bit concerned with who: there's the local sherif, a college football team, and even some soldiers back in the day who all call the so-called "Chicken Ranch" a second home. At the end of the day, however, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is really about a clash between values and tradition -- even if those values and traditions revolve around establishing a place of good repute for the otherwise ill repute employ of whoring -- and the sudden deluge of negative press and outcry that's a result of a television exposé. What makes the movie interesting is that Mona and her whorehouse are town staples. She's a good, upright citizen. The house is located some ways out of town, away from everything else. It's not even a dirty little secret. To most, it seems, it's neither all that dirty nor any sort of secret. It exists in a fairly balanced "live and let live" harmony with the town. But when the opportunity arises to rally against it, the people, by and large, rally against it. The movie is much more interesting for the social and political fallout that comes with the clash between the whorehouse and the news man who crusades to bring it down. It's a contrast that could easily be interpreted to parallel various goings-on in contemporary society and politics, too. But best to leave it to the reader to figure out how.

Beyond the core dramatic details lies a fairly fun and easygoing movie, one filled with cheeky humor and catchy songs that balance out the movie's somewhat darker social and political themes with a fair bit of levity that's captured even in more somber tunes like "Hard Candy Christmas" but especially in the spunky relationship fostered by the magical pairing of Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. The two share a fantastic screen chemistry, particularly as they cheerfully peck at one another in bed or philosophize together under the stars. There's an easygoing believability to both of their characters who aren't all that different in one another's company as they are out in the real world -- he on the streets, she in the sheets -- but who clearly loosen up when Burt's clothes drop off or Dolly gets in a tight little number for him. The movie is populated by several additional quality support performances, particularly from Dom DeLuise as the wig-wearing TV watchdog and Jim Nabors as the bucktooth deputy sheriff. Charles Durning also earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as Texas governor. Director Colin Higgins doesn't go out of his way to make a splash, but he does a fine job putting the movie together, balancing a scope for its musical numbers with an intimacy for its character moments and establishing an even keel between its humor and more serious drama.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Universal has a somewhat shaky history with its catalogue titles on Blu-ray, but the studio's more recent offerings have improved upon its spotty track record. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is one of the better ones to release to the high definition format. It's imperfect to be sure. It sees a steady stream of speckles, splotches, and scratches, but it's otherwise a fairly impressive presentation. Light grain is a regular companion, accentuating the transfer's oftentimes impressive, and mostly stable, filmic appearance. Details are quite nice, particularly pressed police uniforms and facial textures, but little accents around town, in the whorehouse, lingerie, and other assorted elements critical to the movie present with satisfying ability to reveal. Colors are fairly neutral and pleasant. Red -- particularly a bright red getup Mona wears on her introduction -- can be a little gaudy, but for the most part colors are stable and attractive. Black levels -- mostly a concern during nighttime exteriors -- hold up with positive depth and not much crush. Flesh tones appear even and accurate. Compression issues are of no concern. Other than the basic wear-and-tear, this is a strong presentation from Universal.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas arrives on Blu-ray with a straightforward DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. There's not much room or opportunity for music to shine. While it occasionally spreads it wings and maneuvers off to the sides, it mostly pushes firmly to the center with little extension. Clarity is adequate; basic instrumental and vocal details are appreciable, but the track certainly doesn't fire with any sort of lifelike delivery or depth and, of course, no low end support. Ambient effects are few and cannot escape that "phantom center" placement. Beyond the musical numbers, dialogue is the chief component. Delivery is stable with a firm center presence. Clarity is fine with only a few instances of sharp or crackly delivery.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas contains no "top" menu. All supplements must be accessed in-film from the "pop-up" menu. Supplements include a short making-of, outtakes, and a trailer.

• The Making of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (480i, 7:18): This vintage extra is in rough shape. It explores transitioning the Broadway show to the screen, cast and crew, music, performances, audience acceptance, and the real history behind the story, which represents the piece's most interesting stretch.
• Theatrical Trailer (480i, 1:10).
• Outtakes (480i, 4:06): Funny flubs from the film.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas could kinda-sorta be labeled a "classic." It's certainly not a great movie, but it's certainly memorable, mostly for the title but there's just enough beyond in the performances and story to keep it afloat and even relevant more than thirty years since its release. Reynolds and Parton charm, as does DeLuise. Music is by-and-large catchy and tends to get stuck in the head, at least for anyone who likes their show tunes with a bit of Texas twang. Universal's Blu-ray release of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas sports somewhat worn but otherwise solid video, fair two-channel audio, and a small sampling of vintage extras. Recommended.