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Fool's Parade

Play trailer Poster for Fool's Parade PG 1971 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 2 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Mattie Appleyard (James Stewart) has spent the last 40 years behind bars and is finally out. A model prisoner and a hard worker, Appleyard saved up over $25,000 while in prison and entrusted the money to prison guard "Doc" Council (George Kennedy). Appleyard, along with his two ex-con friends, plans to become a respectable citizen by using the money to open a general store -- but it soon becomes clear that Doc and an unscrupulous banker have no intention of letting him go straight.

Critics Reviews

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John Mahoney Los Angeles Free Press 01/09/2020
It is the best film Andrew V. McLaglen has directed and a reassuring reminder that the narrative film need not be dead so long as it can be done well, invested with color and conviction. Go to Full Review Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press 01/17/2019
It is the kind of picture that leans heavily on Stewart's skill, personality and built-in folksiness. Time and again he gives you the impression of an interesting character that really isn't there in the role. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alain E @AlainE 12/15/2024 Watchable, but by no means a great movie. There is a money story, a love story, even a dog story. Most of the bad people are blown to pieces, although the special effects of the period don’t allow us to appreciate the spectacle. See more steve d @RT35616104 01/07/2023 Among Stewart's worst. See more 12/31/2016 http://huewhite.com/umb/2016/12/31/belated-movie-reviews-128/ See more 10/31/2010 Very rare James Stewart western which is well worth seeing. Use to be on telly a lot. Best quote is 'If thy right eye offend thy....pluck it out'!!! I just remember it was mad....and James Stewart was memorizing. Couldn't find this anywhere.....maybe because i knew it by it's 'other' title - 'The Dynamite man from Glory jail'. See more 08/13/2010 The role is a graceful one for an ageing James Stewart and he fits the lead role well in a western narrative set in more modern times. The intriguing aspect of the movie is the odd all-ages mix of supporting actors. It is not detrimental though. See more 01/15/2010 What can I say, its a mature James Stewart in what is actually a really good movie. Stewart plays an ex prison inmate who gets out after 40 years of being inside. Getting out the same time as his 2 friends. What we have here is a movie with everything, a love story, stereotypes and dynamite! James Stewart truly is the man who only went in the bank to cash a cheque! See more Read all reviews
Fool's Parade

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew V. McLaglen

Director

James Stewart

Mattie Appleyard

George Kennedy

"Doc" Council

Anne Baxter

Cleo

Strother Martin

Lee Cottrill

Kurt Russell

Johnny Jesus
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Fool's Parade

Fool's Parade (1971) Fool's Parade (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mattie Appleyard (James Stewart) has spent the last 40 years behind bars and is finally out. A model prisoner and a hard worker, Appleyard saved up over $25,000 while in prison and entrusted the money to prison guard "Doc" Council (George Kennedy). Appleyard, along with his two ex-con friends, plans to become a respectable citizen by using the money to open a general store -- but it soon becomes clear that Doc and an unscrupulous banker have no intention of letting him go straight.
Director
Andrew V. McLaglen
Producer
Andrew V. McLaglen, James Lee Barrett
Screenwriter
James Lee Barrett
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 18, 1971, Limited
Runtime
1h 38m