City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Encyclopedia
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold is a 1994 comedy film
directed by Paul Weiland
. It is the sequel to City Slickers
(1991) and stars Billy Crystal
, Jack Palance
, Jon Lovitz
and Daniel Stern
.
Although a financial success, the film did not quite reach the popularity of the first, receiving a generally mixed response (a 20% Top Critic rating and a 46% RT Community rating on Rotten Tomatoes
). It was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Remake or Sequel.
), and he is welcoming it. The extraordinary cattle-drive vacation he took has had a lasting effect which allows him a much more satisfying life. For instance, his career as a radio executive is going well, to the point that he has now been promoted to Station Manager, and he regularly jogs with Norman, the calf he helped deliver who has grown into an adult bull.
As a present, Mitch's wife (Patricia Wettig
) is going to have the kids sleep at their aunt's house so that she and Mitch can have sex alone. But prior to making love, Mitch finds an old map in the hat of his now-deceased friend, Curly (Jack Palance
), and sees that it is a treasure map with a small corner missing.
Research in the New York Public Library
discloses a 1908 gold theft from the Western Pacific Railroad led by Lincoln Washburn, Curly's father (portrayed by an old newspaper photograph of Palance). Mitch, for his part, has been seeing Curly's face everywhere he goes, and is beginning to have doubts about Curly's death.
Mitch, along with his best friend Phil (Daniel Stern
) and his younger, The Godfather
-obsessed brother Glen (Jon Lovitz
), travel to Las Vegas and then set out on a journey to find the gold in the deserts and canyons of the Southwest. Accidents ensue, such as Glen setting fire to the map with a magnifying glass, and Phil sitting on a cactus with his bare bottom, mistakenly believing that he has been bitten by a rattlesnake.
Along the way, Mitch, Phil and Glen encounter robbers who turn out to be the men (Bud and Matt) who sold them horses and food for the trip. They have come looking for the treasure map. Phil had stupidly bragged to them about Curly, Lincoln, the map and the stolen gold. Just before the city slickers can be killed, a Curly lookalike intervenes and fights the robbers off.
Convinced that his nightmares of accidentally burying Curly alive were true, Mitch is ready for a grave of his own when "Curly" miraculously cuts him free. He then reveals himself to be Duke (Palance), the twin brother of Curly, similar in both demeanor in personality, except that Duke spent his life in the Merchant Marine and has very little knowledge of being a cowboy.
Duke explains that the chef from the cattle drive, Cookie, told him that Mitch had Curly's clothes, and presumably the hat as well, explaining why he has been stalking Mitch back east. Duke wants the gold for himself, but Mitch persuades him that Curly would not be happy with this, and Duke relents. The trio-turned-foursome then carry on with the quest. However, a reckless act by Mitch causes a stampede, and everything is gone, including the map. Fortunately, Glen's amazing memory permits him to remember the rest of the way. And just as Mitch and Phil are about to turn back for home, they find the lost cave where the gold is supposed to be.
As soon as they find it, the four are ambushed by two claim jumpers, apparently Bud and Matt, and they begin to fight. Glen is shot in the stomach. Phil angrily berates the shooter while Mitch mourns his brother. Duke unloads the gun, only to see that the bullets are really blanks with red paint pellets. Everyone is mystified. At that moment, Clay Stone (Noble Willingham
), the man who organised the previous year's cattle drive, shows up. Stone reveals that he knew of Duke and had been attempting to contact him for a long time. The two "claim jumpers" are Stone's sons and not Bud and Matt (although their voices were similar). The treasure map is actually part of a new adventure tour for Stone's ranch. The buried treasure turns out to be gold-painted lead.
Clay Stone and sons orchestrated the "robbery" to scare the city slickers. They shot one with red paint pellets to make it look real, but had never intended it to break out into a fight. Laughing his head off, Stone leaves the cave, leaving Mitch, Phil, Glen and Duke feeling lost. After a last dinner with Stone and a few old friends (such as Ira and Barry Shalowitz from the original cattle drive), Mitch, Phil and Glen return to Las Vegas. Duke, still staunchly believing the gold to be out there somewhere, stays behind.
Duke makes a surprise visit to Mitch's hotel room, telling him that he has adopted Curly's philosophy and found out what his "one thing" is: honesty. Duke reveals that he was planning to cheat Mitch and friends out of the gold, although he later couldn't find it in his heart to do so. Duke then reveals that he had the missing corner of the map in his hat all along, just as Curly had in his. Mitch doesn't believe it until Duke slams a gold brick on the table. A skeptical Mitch tries to scratch the off the gold paint, but it won't come off, revealing that they are going to be rich after all.
Bruno Kirby
did not reprise his role as Ed Furillo from the first film, so the character of Glen was used to replace him.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Paul Weiland
Paul Weiland
Paul Weiland is an English motion picture and television director, writer and producer. Weiland is one of Britain's most successful directors and producers of television commercials having made over 500 commercials, including a popular and long-running series for Walkers crisps...
. It is the sequel to City Slickers
City Slickers
City Slickers is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Ron Underwood and starring Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Helen Slater and Jack Palance. Palance won an Academy Award for his performance....
(1991) and stars Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
, Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
, Jon Lovitz
Jon Lovitz
Jonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
and Daniel Stern
Daniel Stern (actor)
Daniel Jacob Stern is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the Hollywood films C.H.U.D., Diner, City Slickers and the first two Home Alone films, and as the narrator for the television series The Wonder Years.-Early life:Stern was born in Bethesda, Maryland to a...
.
Although a financial success, the film did not quite reach the popularity of the first, receiving a generally mixed response (a 20% Top Critic rating and a 46% RT Community rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
). It was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Remake or Sequel.
Plot
It is the 40th birthday of Mitch Robbins (Billy CrystalBilly Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
), and he is welcoming it. The extraordinary cattle-drive vacation he took has had a lasting effect which allows him a much more satisfying life. For instance, his career as a radio executive is going well, to the point that he has now been promoted to Station Manager, and he regularly jogs with Norman, the calf he helped deliver who has grown into an adult bull.
As a present, Mitch's wife (Patricia Wettig
Patricia Wettig
Patricia Wettig is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her roles in the television series Thirtysomething, Prison Break and Brothers & Sisters...
) is going to have the kids sleep at their aunt's house so that she and Mitch can have sex alone. But prior to making love, Mitch finds an old map in the hat of his now-deceased friend, Curly (Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
), and sees that it is a treasure map with a small corner missing.
Research in the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
discloses a 1908 gold theft from the Western Pacific Railroad led by Lincoln Washburn, Curly's father (portrayed by an old newspaper photograph of Palance). Mitch, for his part, has been seeing Curly's face everywhere he goes, and is beginning to have doubts about Curly's death.
Mitch, along with his best friend Phil (Daniel Stern
Daniel Stern (actor)
Daniel Jacob Stern is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the Hollywood films C.H.U.D., Diner, City Slickers and the first two Home Alone films, and as the narrator for the television series The Wonder Years.-Early life:Stern was born in Bethesda, Maryland to a...
) and his younger, The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
-obsessed brother Glen (Jon Lovitz
Jon Lovitz
Jonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
), travel to Las Vegas and then set out on a journey to find the gold in the deserts and canyons of the Southwest. Accidents ensue, such as Glen setting fire to the map with a magnifying glass, and Phil sitting on a cactus with his bare bottom, mistakenly believing that he has been bitten by a rattlesnake.
Along the way, Mitch, Phil and Glen encounter robbers who turn out to be the men (Bud and Matt) who sold them horses and food for the trip. They have come looking for the treasure map. Phil had stupidly bragged to them about Curly, Lincoln, the map and the stolen gold. Just before the city slickers can be killed, a Curly lookalike intervenes and fights the robbers off.
Convinced that his nightmares of accidentally burying Curly alive were true, Mitch is ready for a grave of his own when "Curly" miraculously cuts him free. He then reveals himself to be Duke (Palance), the twin brother of Curly, similar in both demeanor in personality, except that Duke spent his life in the Merchant Marine and has very little knowledge of being a cowboy.
Duke explains that the chef from the cattle drive, Cookie, told him that Mitch had Curly's clothes, and presumably the hat as well, explaining why he has been stalking Mitch back east. Duke wants the gold for himself, but Mitch persuades him that Curly would not be happy with this, and Duke relents. The trio-turned-foursome then carry on with the quest. However, a reckless act by Mitch causes a stampede, and everything is gone, including the map. Fortunately, Glen's amazing memory permits him to remember the rest of the way. And just as Mitch and Phil are about to turn back for home, they find the lost cave where the gold is supposed to be.
As soon as they find it, the four are ambushed by two claim jumpers, apparently Bud and Matt, and they begin to fight. Glen is shot in the stomach. Phil angrily berates the shooter while Mitch mourns his brother. Duke unloads the gun, only to see that the bullets are really blanks with red paint pellets. Everyone is mystified. At that moment, Clay Stone (Noble Willingham
Noble Willingham
Noble Henry Willingham, Jr. was an American television and film actor.-Career:Willingham had appeared in more than thirty feature films, including Harry's War , Up Close and Personal , City Slickers , The Last Boy Scout , City Slickers II , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , Chinatown...
), the man who organised the previous year's cattle drive, shows up. Stone reveals that he knew of Duke and had been attempting to contact him for a long time. The two "claim jumpers" are Stone's sons and not Bud and Matt (although their voices were similar). The treasure map is actually part of a new adventure tour for Stone's ranch. The buried treasure turns out to be gold-painted lead.
Clay Stone and sons orchestrated the "robbery" to scare the city slickers. They shot one with red paint pellets to make it look real, but had never intended it to break out into a fight. Laughing his head off, Stone leaves the cave, leaving Mitch, Phil, Glen and Duke feeling lost. After a last dinner with Stone and a few old friends (such as Ira and Barry Shalowitz from the original cattle drive), Mitch, Phil and Glen return to Las Vegas. Duke, still staunchly believing the gold to be out there somewhere, stays behind.
Duke makes a surprise visit to Mitch's hotel room, telling him that he has adopted Curly's philosophy and found out what his "one thing" is: honesty. Duke reveals that he was planning to cheat Mitch and friends out of the gold, although he later couldn't find it in his heart to do so. Duke then reveals that he had the missing corner of the map in his hat all along, just as Curly had in his. Mitch doesn't believe it until Duke slams a gold brick on the table. A skeptical Mitch tries to scratch the off the gold paint, but it won't come off, revealing that they are going to be rich after all.
Cast
- Billy CrystalBilly CrystalWilliam Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
as Mitch Robbins - Daniel SternDaniel Stern (actor)Daniel Jacob Stern is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the Hollywood films C.H.U.D., Diner, City Slickers and the first two Home Alone films, and as the narrator for the television series The Wonder Years.-Early life:Stern was born in Bethesda, Maryland to a...
as Phil Berquist - Jon LovitzJon LovitzJonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
as Glen Robbins - Jack PalanceJack PalanceJack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
as Duke Washburn/Curly Washburn/Lincoln Washburn - Patricia WettigPatricia WettigPatricia Wettig is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her roles in the television series Thirtysomething, Prison Break and Brothers & Sisters...
as Barbara Robbins - Pruitt Taylor VincePruitt Taylor VincePruitt Taylor Vince is an American award-winning character actor who has made many appearances in film and television.-Personal life:Vince was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
as Bud - Bill McKinneyBill McKinneyBill McKinney is an American character actor whose most famous role was the sadistic mountain man in the movie Deliverance...
as Matt - Lindsay Crystal, daughter of Billy, as Holly Robbins
- Beth GrantBeth GrantBeth Grant is an American actress. She is known for often playing characters who are conservatives, religious zealots or sticklers for rules....
as Lois - Noble WillinghamNoble WillinghamNoble Henry Willingham, Jr. was an American television and film actor.-Career:Willingham had appeared in more than thirty feature films, including Harry's War , Up Close and Personal , City Slickers , The Last Boy Scout , City Slickers II , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , Chinatown...
as Clay Stone - David PaymerDavid PaymerDavid Paymer is an American actor and television director, seen in such films as Quiz Show, Searching for Bobby Fischer, City Slickers, Crazy People, State and Main, Payback, Get Shorty, Carpool, The American President, Ocean's Thirteen, and Drag Me to Hell...
as Ira Shalowitz - Josh MostelJosh MostelJoshua "Josh" Mostel is an American actor who is best known for his roles in Jesus Christ Superstar and two Adam Sandler films .-Life and career:...
as Barry Shalowitz - Jayne MeadowsJayne Meadows-Early life:Jayne Meadows was born as Jayne Cotter in Wu-ch'ang, in Heilongjiang, China, to Episcopal missionary parents, the Rev. Francis James Meadows Cotter and his wife, the former Ida Miller Taylor, who had married in 1915. Meadows is the older sister of the late actress Audrey Meadows. She...
as the voice of Mitch's mother - Jennifer Crystal FoleyJennifer Crystal FoleyJennifer Crystal Foley is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Christie Parker in Once and Again and as the recurring character Rachel Taub on House. She is mostly credited as Jennifer Crystal Foley.-Early life:Crystal graduated from Northwestern University in 1994...
, daughter of Billy, as jogger - Bob BalabanBob BalabanRobert Elmer "Bob" Balaban is an American actor, author and director.-Personal life:Balaban was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Eleanor and Elmer Balaban, who owned several movie theatres and later was a pioneer in cable television...
as Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited) - Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
as Norman (voice)
Bruno Kirby
Bruno Kirby
Bruno Kirby was an American film and television actor. He was perhaps best known for his roles in the Hollywood films City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally..., Good Morning, Vietnam, The Godfather Part II and Donnie Brasco.-Early life:Kirby was born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu, Jr. in New York City,...
did not reprise his role as Ed Furillo from the first film, so the character of Glen was used to replace him.