John Astin is Michael O’Toole, forced to run from a group of men who think he had too much good luck in a card game.
Steve Carlson is younger brother Timothy. He’s running too, after feigning a dizzy spell to get into a pretty girl’s bedroom, where he was discovered by her quite angry father.
The O’Toole brothers find one another on the road out of town and, with one horse between them, set off looking for a fresh start.
The road leads them to the small town of Molybdenum, and Michael decides to forge ahead to scout out the prospects there.
But no sooner has he dismounted than he’s arrested by Sheriff Ed Hatfield and thrown in jail, mistaken for notorious outlaw Desperate Ambrose Littleberry.
While everyone ignores Michael’s pleas that it’s a case of mistaken identity, town leaders being planning a hanging.
Even Thomas has no luck convincing the sheriff or mayor of Michael’s true identity.
And when a young boy offers to show him a secret passage to the jail, it leads to the gallows instead.
The O’Tooles have one last hope: feisty Paloma Littleberry (Lee Meriweather), the outlaw’s estranged wife. She’ll surely be able to identify the man she loathes.
John Astin as Michael O’Toole, mistaken for an outlaw and jailed in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Steve Carlson as Timothy O’Toole, trying to convince Paloma she can clear his brother in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Review:
A low-budget, but fairly entertaining Western comedy, filled with eccentric characters.
One of the most eccentric is Paloma. She’s scrawled an “un” in front of “wanted” on her husband’s poster and planted an Indian arrow in his image.
Then there’s the undertaken, who witnessed a hanging when he was young and has waited 26 years to host his own.
One of the film’s running gags is the town’s name, Molybdenum. It came from the worthless mineral found in the mines outside town, mines that were supposed to make the town prosperous.
These days, the only prosperous person in Molybdenum is the corrupt mayor. Most people have taken to calling the town Moly-be-damn. Except the pious ones, who just call it Moly B.
At one point, dance teacher Prudence Burdyne gets a resounding ovation for pronouncing the town’s name properly.
John Astin as Desperate Ambrose Littleberry, the outlaw who’s been terrorizing the region in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Lee Meriweather as Paloma Littleberry, explaining her hatred for her bandit husband in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Directed by:
Richard Erdman
Cast:
John Astin … Michael O’Toole / Desperate Ambrose Littleberry
Pat Carroll … Callie Burdyne
Hans Conried … Polonius Vandergelt
Richard Erdman … Judge Quincey P. Trumbell
Allyn Joslyn … Sheriff Ed Hatfield
Richard Jury … Harmon P. Lovejoy
Lee Meriweather … Paloma Littleberry
Jesse White … Mayor
Steve Carlson … Timothy O’Toole
Miranda Barry … Bonnie Lou MacClanahan
Francelle Fuller … Prudence Burdyne
Ted Claassen … Gurnie Burdyne
Harlan Knudson … Dexter, the banker
Leon Enge … Hard Rock
Jacques Hampton … Attorney Bedemeir
Charlie Dell … Jackson
Vern Porter … Happy
Noomis Jones … Tyler
Leland Murray … Forty Rod
Ed Mullaney … Poppa McClanahan
William Oakley … Carson
Gary Tessler … Lubie
The Rufus Krisp Element … Themselves
Runtime: 95 min.
Jesse White as the mayor of Molybdenum, corrupt and rich in a town of poor folks in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Allyn Joslyn as Sheriff Ed Hatfield, who just won’t believe he’s locked up the wrong man in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Memorable lines:
Michael O’Toole, accused of cheating at cards: “There’s a time to talk. There’s a time for action. This is a time to run.”
Michael O’Toole: “Not a friend in the world. And that’s all I have to be thankful for.”
Timothy O’Toole, at the brothers approach Molybdenum, Colorado: “Why can’t I ride ahead for a change?”
Michael O’Toole: “Because if there’s a woman around, you always forget what you’re looking for.”
Prudence Burdyne, as Timothy recites his brother’s accomplishments: “He sounds like a very successful man.”
Timothy O’Toole: “He hasn’t tried that yet.”
Prudence Burdyne, dancing with Timothy and inviting him to the post-hanging reception: “Well be having refreshments after the melancholy demise.”
Miranda Barry as Bonnie Lou MacClanahan, about to be caught by her father in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Pat Carroll as Callie Burdyne, the widow who befriends Timothy O’Toole in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Hans Conried as Polonius Vandergalt, who arrives in Molybdenum looking to open a sawmill in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
Francelle Fuller as Prudence Burdyne, Callie’s slightly touched sister in The Brothers O’Toole (1973)
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