A Polish rabbi wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco. On the way, he is nearly burned at the stake by Native Americans and almost killed by outlaws.A Polish rabbi wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco. On the way, he is nearly burned at the stake by Native Americans and almost killed by outlaws.A Polish rabbi wanders through the Old West on his way to lead a synagogue in San Francisco. On the way, he is nearly burned at the stake by Native Americans and almost killed by outlaws.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
- Darryl Diggs
- (as George Ralph DiCenzo)
- Sarah Mindl
- (as a different name)
- Old Amish Man
- (as Walter Janowitz)
- Mr. Daniels
- (as Cliff Pellow)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia1979 marketing for the film heavily emphasizes Gene Wilder's role in the film, with little marketing of Harrison Ford's supporting role, despite Ford having been in the blockbuster Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) two years earlier. When The Frisco Kid was released on DVD, the cover was a blow up of Ford's face, with Wilder relegated to a small corner of the cover.
- GoofsIn a conversation between Avram and Tommy there is a reference to the country of Czechoslovakia. The film is set in 1850 but Czechoslovakia was established in 1918 as a result of WW1. The territory was then called Bohemia.
- Quotes
Avram: [Trying to catch a wild 'chicken'] Chicken, chicken, chicken! Chickie-chickie-chickie-chicken! Come here,
[sing-songs]
Avram: I don't want to hurt you, I just want to eat you.
[repeats in Yiddish, 'chicken' flies away]
Avram: Come here, wait! I don't want to hurt you! I just want to make you kosher!
- SoundtracksBeautiful Dreamer
Composed by Stephen Foster (as Stephen Collins Foster)
I read the (some) lukewarm comments here on the Database and the more positive ones and let them ride, just keeping this small pearl tucked away as my favorite movie. Then last night I came home, turned on the tv and caught Gene Wilder as the rabbi Avram Belinksi trying NOT to look at the woman on the train's wondrous cleavage as he was making his way to 1850 San Francisco, so I and sat down and watched the movie through again. It is still as funny, quaint, realistic, well acted and kind as it has ever been.
Gene Wilder demonstrates the best acting he has ever done. He IS Avram Belinski. Complex, human, childlike and oh so (what I imagine) European Jewish. A stranger in a doubly strange land. Strange by being an urban Pole in the "wild west" and strange by being a Jew in that world. I learnt a lot about "Jewishness" from this movie, and at the same time a lot about Americanism too. Being neither myself I can still appreciate the humour. Humanist, long suffering, realistic and proud.
Whatever it is inside me that makes me feel good and part of humanity is touched by "The Frisco Kid". That is why I regard it as my "favorite" movie, not the best movie ever made. That title I reserve for another totally different obscure B/W movie called "King and Country" whose demonstrated injustice is counter-balanced by Avram's integrity.
- KarlMaldensNose
- Jan 31, 2001
- How long is The Frisco Kid?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $9,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $9,346,177
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $160,292
- Jul 15, 1979
- Gross worldwide
- $9,346,177
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