Le rendez-vous des dupes

My Dad grew up in WV and took my brother and I to see this movie at the theater when it came out in 1971. It was a great film! I have waited for 35 years to see it again, with no luck.

The beginning of the movie was set and filmed in Moundsville, WV in the early 30s. Jimmy Stewart played a character with a glass eye, who had served some 30 or 40 years in prison and was headed to the WV capitol to cash his check for funds owed to him for his prison labors. The conflict in the movie is the evil warden type, played by George Kennedy, who is out to kill Stewart and his two buddies, one of which is played by Strother Martin. The Strother Martin character wants to open up his own grocery store with the help of the Jimmy Stewart character.

This is a wonderful film, somewhat similar in style to The Film Flam Man, and of the same vintage. I would love to get a copy of it, or see it again on TCM or another channel.

Could anyone guess why this movie has never been made available since its original release? I would sure like to know...

Fools' Parade (also known as Dynamite Man from Glory Jail) is directed by Andrew McLaglen and stars James Stewart, George Kennedy, Kurt Russell, and Strother Martin. It's based on the novel of the same name by Davis Grubb with a screenplay by James Lee Barrett. Harry Stradling Jr. photographs on location in Marshall County, West Virginia and Henry Vars scores the music.

Three men released from prison, one with a cheque for $25,452.32 in his pocket. One crooked bank manager and one vindictive prison captain, both men determined not to let the prisoners cash in that cheque.

Something of an under seen picture due to no home format release as yet, Fools' Parade is a well acted story set around the depression era. It's got a mixture of violence, comedy, adventure and whimsy, while its themes of corruption, new beginnings and moral quandaries are neatly put together as a melodramatic whole. The characterisations are most interesting, not least the three criminals, who having served time for some terrible crimes, are actually the most stand up guys in a town that's full of desperation; where the residents are teetering on the brink of badness.

The cast speaks for itself as regards quality, and they deliver on the promise of their names. While an unrecognisable Anne Baxter also enters the fray late on with a heartfelt and dramatic performance. Special mention for Stradling's photography, which captures the hazy atmosphere of the troubled 30s especially well. A more than involving film that prospective new viewers should try and catch if they get the chance. 7/10

I grew up in Moundsville W.Va. where the movie was filmed and got to watch many of the areas they filmed, i was able to get several signatures from the actors, Jimmy Stewart, Struther Martin and George Kennedy. I never got to meet Kurt Russell. It was a really good movie, not Oscar material, but very enjoyable. The last comment about why the movie never made it to copy, is because (this is what I've heard) Anne Bancroft did not like her portrayal and would never authorized a release in copy. She is now deceased, so i can only hope this will allow copies to be made and distributed. I for one would be the first in line to get it!.

Interesting story set in Great Depression with tension , intrigue , some violence but also amusement and too many moments to be taken seriously . Glory, W.Va., 1935. It wasn't exactly a parade . It wasn't a time for celebration. It was a time to run for your life. When a trio ( Stewart ,Strother Martin , Kurt Russell ) of ex-inmates led by Mattie Appleyard (James Stewart) is released from jail , they hope to open a general store . Homer Grindstaff ( David Huddleston) is a big named banker in Glory and Doc Council (George Kennedy) is a prison guard and they team up to scheme to kill Appleyard and his ex-convict friends who were trying to open up a general store in Stone Coal, West Virginia and then to take the money . After the three ex-cons boarded a passenger train( the locomotive used in this movie is none other than Southern Railway 4501 ) headed for Stone Coal , Council join forces with an assortment of bad guys , Steve Mystic (Mike Kellin) and Junior Kilfong (Morgan Paull) to stop the train before it reaches its destination and kill all three convicts . After an unsuccessful attempt, Junior Kilfong fires one shot from his double barrelled shotgun into Roy K. Sizemore (William Windom) knocking him to the ground. Later on , the trio escapes and goes to a brothel-ship where they find a Madam ( Anne Baxter) and a young girl (Katherine Cannon) .

This entertaining film about three ex-cons stalked by their former warden contains action , melodramatic events , thrills , some violence but also humor , though clichés run through-out . Comic relief for amusing moments developed among main characters and especially on the relationship between James Stewart and Strother Martin . Another great James Stewart acting as a good ex-convict who puts explosives on his body , hence the alternative name of the film "Dynamite Man from Glory Jail" . Very good support cast with special mention to George Kennedy as an extremely villain and Anne Baxter as an old prostitute . Colorful cinematography by Harry Stradling Jr , Victor MacLagen's usual , and was filmed in Moundsville, West Virginia, which was the hometown of Davis Grubbs, author of the novel titled "Fools' Parade" .

The motion picture sometimes receives an excessive melodramatic treatment and being well realized by Andrew V McLagen, son of great actor Victor McLagen . He's a a known Ford's disciple . Andrew holds the distinction of directing the most episodes of "Gunsmoke" . Furthermore , he holds the honor of filmmaking the most episodes of ¨Have gun , Will travel" (1957). And is one of the few directors to have directed both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne . He's a Western expert (McLintock, Shenandoah, Bandolero, Chisum, Cahill, Way west) and warlike specialist , such as proved in several films ( Return to Kwai, Wild Geese , Dirtdozen: the next mission, Sea wolves, Breakthrough ) . Rating : Nice 6,5 . The picture will appeal to James Stewart fans , an old master in the art of conjuring sympathy out of nothing . Worthwhile watching .

If you've found your way to these comments then know that you've found in me a true fan of this film. I got here in an attempt to find a source for buying this film. Alas, it was not to be! The 1971 movie features great dramatic performances by James Stewart, Strother Martin, George Kennedy and Kurt Russell. It's a pretty fair example of a road movie that features, I believe, West Virginia as a backdrop in the mid 1930's. It's great entertainment, fun, exciting and suspenseful, too.

Hopefully it will be available someday. I believe it could be productively marketed as a rather important DVD release considering the cast and over all quality of the movie.

So it's now 13 months after I've originally posted and the question is, When is this movie going to be released on video/DVD?