Paper Moon (1973)
- Starring:
- Ryan O'Neal, Tatum O'Neal, (more)
- Director(s):
- Peter Bogdanovich
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Paper Moon
The year is 1936. Orphaned Addie Loggins (Tatum O'Neal, in her film debut) is left in the care of unethical travelling Bible salesman Moses Pray (Ryan O'Neal, Tatum's dad), who may or may not be her father. En route to Addie's relatives, Moses learns that the 9-year-old is quite a handful: she smokes, cusses, and is almost as devious and manipulative as he is. They join forces as swindlers, working together so well that Addie is averse to breaking up the team -- which is one reason that she sabotages the romance between Moses and good-time gal Trixie Delight (Madeline Kahn). Later, while attempting to square a $200 debt that Addie claims he owes her, Moses runs afoul of of a bootlegger (John Hillerman) and is nearly beaten to death by the criminal's twin-brother sheriff. Painfully pulling himself together, Moses gets Addie to her relatives, whereupon she adamantly refuses to leave his side. Photographed in black-and-white by Laszlo Kovacs, the film was made largely on location in Kansas and Missouri (an experience colorfully recalled by director Peter Bogdanovich in his 1972 book of essays Pieces of Time). 9-year-old Tatum O'Neal won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, beating out costar Kahn. Paper Moon later became a short-lived TV series, starring Ryan O'Neal lookalike Christopher Connelly and future Oscar winner Jodie Foster. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 102 mins
Complete Cast of Paper Moon
- Ryan O'Neal - Moses Pray
- Madeline Kahn - Trixie Delight
- P.J. Johnson - Imogene
- Burton Gilliam - Floyd, the Desk Clerk
- Art Ellison - Silver Mine Gentleman
- Jack Saunders - Station Master
- Jessie Lee Fulton - Miss Ollie
- Jody Wilbur - Cafe Waitress
- Hugh Gillin - 2nd Deputy
- Liz Ross - Pearl the Widow Morgan
- Tatum O'Neal - Addie Loggins
- John Hillerman - Sheriff Hardin
- Randy Quaid - Leroy
- Ed Reed - Lawman
- Yvonne Harrison - Marie the Widow Bates
- James Harrell - Minister
- Lila Water - Minister's Wife
- Bob Young - Gas Station Attendant
- Desmond Dhooge - Cotton Candy Man
- Noble Willingham - Mr. Robertson
- Director(s):
- Peter Bogdanovich
- Writer(s):
- Alvin Sargent
- Producer(s):
- Frank Marshall, Peter Bogdanovich
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Language, Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Situations)
- 1973 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - New Star of the Year - Female
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