Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Diane Lane is Little Britches; Amanda Plummer is Cattle Annie in this tale of two orphans bound for California and looking for adventure.

They’ve just been fired as dishwashers at a restaurant when the Doolin-Dalton gang, led by Bill Doolin (Burt Lancaster), comes riding into a small Western town to resupply after a botched train robbery.

Having read dime novels of the gang’s exploits, a fascinated Annie decides to impress the men with her ability to gulp a glass of whiskey and smoke a cigarette.

By the time the meeting ends, she’s most fascinated with Bittercreek Newcomb (John Savage) and decides he’ll be her first lover.

It looks unlikely when the gang rushes out of town because the law — specifically Marshal Bill Tilghman (Red Steiger) — is catching up.

Then Annie’s horse goes lame crossing an arid stretch of land, and Bittercreek comes to the young girls’ rescue, offering them a ride to the gang’s hideout.

From that point on, Annie and Jenny — Little Britches’ given name — are unofficial members of what’s left of the infamous outlaw band.

Annie delivers pep talks, telling the gang members how they’re supposed to act, according to Ned Buntline’s Western novels.

And a typically jovial Bill Doolin tries to hold the gang together, even as the luck and success at pulling robberies seems to be waning.

But their biggest problem is Tilghman, an aging lawman determined to bring them to justice.

Amanda Plummer as Cattle Annie, determined to break Bill Doolin out of jail in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Diane Lane as Little Britches, aka Jenny, following friend Annie into an affiliation with the Doolin-Dalton gang in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Review:

An odd final Western for Burt Lancaster, who turns in a spirited performance, but winds up playing third fiddle behind a pair of young female actresses.

It’s Amanda Plummer as Cattle Annie who steals the show in her film debut, eager for love and adventure, not hesitating to follow an outlaw gang on their exploits.

In fact, she saves the gang from a trap in Empire City. And when Bill Doolin is thrown in jail, she’s determined to break him out, even if she has to do it without the help of his gang.

Diane Lane’s Little Britches is more of a tag-along. She doesn’t want to be left behind, but she’s not so certain following Annie, who’s following a band of outlaws, is a good idea either.

In Doolin, she finds a father figure. Lane was 16 and appearing in her third film; Plummer was 24 when this movie was released.

Buck Taylor of Gunsmoke fame is part of the Doolin-Dalton gang. Scott Glenn plays Bill Dalton, it’s co-leader, though he doesn’t get to do much by scowl.

Burt Lancaster as Bill Doolin, aging leader of the Doolin-Dalton gang in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Rod Steiger as Bill Tilghman, the lawman on the trail of the Doolin-Dalton gang in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Directed by:
Lamont Johnson

Cast:
Diane Lane … Jenny (Little Britches)
Amanda Plummer … Cattle Annie
Burt Lancaster … Bill Doolin
Rod Steiger … Bill Tilghman
Scott Glenn … Bill Dalton
William Russell … Little Dick
Buck Taylor … Dynamite Dick
Roger Cudney … Capps
Redmond Gleeson … Red Buck
John Savage … Bittercreek Newcomb
Kenny Call … George Weightman
John Sterlini … Corey
John Quade … Morgan
Perry Lang … Elrod

Runtime: 97 min.

John Savage as Bittercreek Newcomb, the outlaw Cattle Annie falls for in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Scott Glenn as Bill Dalton, the long remaining member of his family in the gang in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Memorable lines:

Morton, the restaurant owner: “You’re fired! The both of you! You’re fired?”
Cattle Annie: “No I ain’t, you scum suckin’ son of a bitch. I have resigned.”

Bill Doolin: “Seems ass backwards. But what don’t these days.”
Cory: “Civilization comin’ here, Bill. Be careful it don’t get ya.”
Doolin: “Civilization, huh? Well, let me tell ya. Civilization is gonna have to get in line behind all the (law)men after me.”

Bill Doolin: “Tell me, Breed, them hot springs. Old Indian folks say they’re rejuvenatin’. Any truth to that?”
Bittercreek Newcomb: “So the legends go. But we know all legends end in bullshit, don’t they Doolin?”
Doolin: “Well, I’ll just try it and see if this one works.”

Bill Dalton: “Child, life ain’t one of your dime novels.”
Cattle Annie: “If you don’t live it, it ain’t worth a dime anyway.”

Cattle Annie, as they intend to rescue Bill Doolin: “You scared?”
Little Britches: “I was born scared. And you were born crazy. And none of it matters anyway.”

Diane Lane as Little Britches, aka Jenny, and Amanda Plummer at Cattle Annie in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Buck Taylor as Dynamite Dick, a member of the Doolin-Dalton gang in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Members of the Doolin-Dalton gang attempt a bank robbery in Empire City in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)

Diane Lane as Little Britches and Amanda Plummer as Cattle Annie, realizing their plan isn’t going to work in Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981)