Paper Moon

1973 • 102 minutes

About this movie

Ryan O'Neal teams up with his daughter Tatum in this very bright, very warm, and very funny period film for which Tatum won an Oscar® in her first film role. Ryan O'Neal plays the smooth-talking con man Moses Pray, driving through depression-era Kansas with a carload of deluxe bibles, a gold tooth behind a convincing smile, and a list of newly widowed prospects for his line. Addie (Tatum O'Neal) is a cigarette-smoking, nine-year-old orphan who hooks up with Moses and manages to show the master con man a trick or two. Madeline Kahn gives a funny, neurotic performance as Trixie Delight, who goes along for the ride until Addie determines that Trixie might come between Addie and Moses — which, obviously, cannot happen.

Ratings and reviews

Tatum is brilliant. I wish she had made more movies. I watched this when it originally opened in cinemas around Australia. I was young but already into films in a big way. This film is a five star stand out.