A young boy's imagination summons cowboy legend Pecos Bill, who helps him save the family farm from a greedy land-grabber. With the help of a lumberjack and a railroad worker, they all embark on a surprise-filled adventure.
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Title: Tall Tale (1995)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Patrick Swayze | ... | Pecos Bill | |
| Oliver Platt | ... | Paul Bunyan | |
| Roger Aaron Brown | ... | John Henry | |
| Nick Stahl | ... | Daniel Hackett | |
| Scott Glenn | ... | J.P. Stiles | |
| Stephen Lang | ... | Jonas Hackett | |
| Jared Harris | ... | Head Thug Pug | |
| Catherine O'Hara | ... | Calamity Jane | |
| Moira Sinise | ... | Sarah Hackett (as Moira Harris) | |
| Joe Grifasi | ... | Man in Top Hat (as Joseph Grifasi) | |
| John P. Ryan | ... | Grub | |
| Scott Wilson | ... | Zeb | |
| Bert Kramer | ... | Bronson | |
 |
Eric Lawson | ... | Sheriff |
| Bill Rodgers | ... | Captain of Industry | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
A young boy draws on the inspiration of legendary western characters to find the strength to fight an evil land baron in the old west who wants to steal his family's farm and destroy their idyllic community. When Daniel Hackett sees his father Jonas gravely wounded by the villainous Stiles, his first urge is for his family to flee the danger, and give up their life on a farm which Daniel has come to despise anyway. Going alone to a lake to try to decide what to do, he falls asleep on a boat and wakes to find himself in the wild west, in the company of such "tall tale" legends as Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, John Henry, and Calamity Jane. Together, they battle the same villains Daniel is facing in his "real" world. Written by Sean Parlaman <seanpar@efn.org>
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Sometime the hero ends up being you! See more »Parents Guide:
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Jonas Hackett: He's out there... where there's still enough elbow room for a man to wander. He's out there... where the land is still young and wild. You don't believe me? I swear to you by the code of the West, Pecos Bill is as real as you and me. Now, you know the Code of the West don't you?
Daniel Hackett: Yeah, Pa, I know.
Jonas Hackett: Respect the land, defend the defenseless and don't never spit in front of women and children.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Bill tells Daniel a story about a man named Lanky Hank who was bounced by Widowmaker up to the Moon and had to be euthanized by shooting. This is a variation of a well-known Pecos Bill anecdote, but usually the victim is a woman, Slue-Foot Sue. In many versions, Sue is rescued. See more »Goofs
The six-shooters are never reloaded but they never run out of bullets. This is a common trope in Western movies, and seems particularly appropriate for a "tall tale" where everything is exaggerated. See more »Quotes
Daniel Hackett: Pa, Pecos Bill ain't real.Jonas Hackett: He's out there... where there's still enough elbow room for a man to wander. He's out there... where the land is still young and wild. You don't believe me? I swear to you by the code of the West, Pecos Bill is as real as you and me. Now, you know the Code of the West don't you?
Daniel Hackett: Yeah, Pa, I know.
Jonas Hackett: Respect the land, defend the defenseless and don't never spit in front of women and children.
See more »
Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Dolores Claiborne/Funny Bones/Major Payne/Circle of Friends/Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill (1995) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
24 March 1995 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Tall Tale See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$32,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$3,046,181, 26 March 1995Gross USA:
$8,247,627Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$11,047,627Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
I totally dug this movie when I was a kid (like 7 or 8 or 9 years old). I had it on tape and my sister, cousins, and I watched it all the time. It's certainly no blockbuster or award winning picture, but it's still fun for kids (it was for me anyway). I remember liking how these story characters I was familiar with, were all linked together in the story and were (kind of) brought to life. Anyway, I guess it's just personal preference, but I remember digging it, and to say that no child got anything out of this silly movie would be wrong. I can't really remember the story too much now, to be honest, (it's been so long), but just thinking about it made me smile, and I am seriously tempted to go out and rent it for my nephews. It's only a dollar or two, and even if it doesn't pack the same punch it did when I was little, I'm sure I would enjoy seeing it again, and I'm sure my nephews might enjoy it too.