Movie Type: Family-Oriented Comedy, Comedy Western
Themes: Orphans
Main Cast: Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Ruth Buzzi, Tim Matheson, Kenneth Mars, Elyssa Davalos
Release Year: 1979
Country: US
Run Time: 88 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
Tim Conway and Don Knotts, mere supporting characters in the original Apple Dumpling Gang, are promoted to starring roles in the 1979 sequel The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. Once more cast as clumsy, soft-hearted western outlaws, Conway and Knotts come to the rescue of cavalry private Tim Matheson. The villain, lieutenant Philip Pine, is undermining the authority of Matheson's commander Harry Morgan, and Matheson wants to find out why. Featured performers include Jack Elam as Big Mac and Ruth Buzzi as Tough Kate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Jack Elam - Big Mac; Robert Pine - Lt. Jim Ravencroft; Audrey Totter - Martha Osten; Richard X. Slattery - Sgt. Slaughter; John Crawford - Sheriff; Cliff Osmond - Wes Hardin; Ted Gehring - Frank Starrett; Morgan Paull - Corporal No. 1; James Almanzar - Lennie; George Chandler - Elderly Man; Vince Deadrick, Jr.; Art Evans - Baggage Master; Shug Fisher - Bartender; Stu Gilliam - The Cook; Rex Holman - Reno; Ted Jordan - Citizen #2; Ralph Manza - Little Guy; Michael Masters; Ed McCready - Citizen #1; Roger Mobley - Sentry #1; Bryan O'Byrne - Photographer; Jack Perkins - The Drunk; Nick Ramus - Indian Chief; Pete Renaday - Jailer at Fort; Jay Ripley - Soldier #2; James Van Patten - 1st Soldier; John Wheeler - Conductor; Louie Elias - Henchman #3; Mickey Gilbert - Tough #1; Bill Hart - Officer #2; Gary McLarty - Corporal #2; Robert J. Totten - Blainey; Mike Elias; Bill Erickson - Cavalry Man #2; Tom Jackman; Joe Baker - Prisoner Joe; Dave Cass - Henchman #2; Harry Morgan - Maj. Gaskill
Credit
John Mansbridge - Art Director, Norman Rockett - Art Director, Frank T. Smith - Art Director, Tom Leetch - Co-producer, Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer, Vincent McEveety - Director, Gordon D. Brenner - Editor, Buddy Baker - Composer (Music Score), Robert J. Schiffer - Makeup, Frank Phillips - Cinematographer, Ron Miller - Producer, Norman Rockett - Set Designer, Art Cruickshank - Special Effects, Danny Lee - Special Effects, Don Tait - Screenwriter
Amos (Conway) and Theodore (Knotts), the old bank robbers turned good guys, arrive in the "boom town" of Junction City, and cause havoc from the start. The duo – who had promised to go straight after the events of the first film – get into trouble when they are framed for robbery at the town bank. The robbers trick them into depositing their money, and then run off with it. The town's feared lawman, Wooly Bill Hitchcock (Mars), is determined to capture the gang and punish them for their crime, but when he catches Amos and Theodore at the bank and attempts to arrest them, their guns accidentally go off and hit Wooly Bill in the hands as witnesses look on. The accident not only makes Amos and Theodore the new "quick guns" in the town, but it makes the humiliated lawman even more determined to capture the "Apple Dumpling Gang" (as they are now called, since Theodore advised them not to use their own names in the new town.) Things get worse when their donkey Clarise (who joined them from the first film) shows up with the stolen money when the real bank robbers in a hurry put most of the money on her saddle. As they attempt to return it by swinging it from the roof of the building across from the building, the bags land on Wooly Bill and cause even more injuries to him.
