The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag (1992)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Allan Moyle

Writer (WGA):

Grace Cary Bickley (written by)

Release Date:

21 August 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery

Tagline:

She was a nobody until someone found...

Plot:

An ignored, small-town librarian confesses to a murder she didn't commit to get attention.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Librarian | Gun | Hitman | Library

Cast

Penelope Ann Miller	...	Mrs. Elizabeth Louise 'Betty Lou' Perkins
Eric Thal	...	Detective Alex Perkins
Alfre Woodard	...	Attorney Ann Orkin
Julianne Moore	...	Elinor
Andy Romano	...	Herrick
Ray McKinnon	...	Detective Frank
William Forsythe	...	William 'Billy' Beaudeen
Xander Berkeley	...	Mr. Marchat
Michael O'Neill	...	Jergens
Christopher John Fields	...	Brown
Cathy Moriarty	...	Reba Bush
Billie Neal	...	Gail
Gale Mayron	...	Pearl
Faye Grant	...	Charleen Barnes
Reathel Bean	...	Bob Barnes

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, and for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Astrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Germany:16 | UK:15 | Argentina:13 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Greenwood, Mississippi, USA

Company:

In The Bag Productions

Quotes:

Betty Lou Perkins: Look at this: Barry Manilow, Debbie Boone, Paul Anka in Vegas. This guy deserved to be shot.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Girls Town (#7.1)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Every Breath You Take

Admittedly All Over The Place

I get a big kick out of this film, partly because I know a librarian named Betty Lou! Needless to say she is nothing like the semi-stereotypical librarian of the movie...

In the film, Betty Lou is a mousy librarian and frustrated wife. Although innocent, she allows herself to be implicated in a crime of passion in order to challenge her husband's (all too accurate) preconceptions. With the aid of a prostitute with a heart of gold and an ambitious freshman lawyer, Betty Lou transforms herself into an assertive and confidant woman. Unfortunately there are some unforeseen consequences that could cost her her life!

Other reviewers have pointed out that this film is very uneven in tone. It isn't really a romantic comedy, more of a light thriller like "Get Shorty." The real problem is that the plot isn't clever enough for a thriller, the humor isn't sufficient for a comedy, and it certainly isn't dark enough for noir. However it has a naive symbolism I find appealing, and the actors appear to be having a good time with their roles. I'd call it stereotypical rather than sexist - I can easily imagine some women I've known going to such extremes for attention!

I wouldn't go out of my way to look this one up. But if it's on the tube and there's nothing else to see give it a try!