Review of The Ballad of Little Jo (1993) by Alison O — 14 Dec 2003
VIDEO.
This movie tells the heartbreaking story of Josephine Monaghan, a well-heeled society lady of the American pioneer days who was cast out from her hometown when she bore a child out of wedlock. Based on an amalgamation of true stories about women masquerading as men in the Old West, Josephine becomes Little Jo soon after discovering that her career prospects as a lone female ranged from prostitute to bar wench. While the female-male transformation isn't as convincing as say Hilary Swank's in Boys Don't Cry, in the lead role Suzy Amis convinces as a woman trying to carve out a new life for herself in the frontier town of Ruby City. Sir Ian McKellen puts in an appearance as evil landlord Percy Corcoran and Heather Graham has a minor role as a serving wench, but Bad Girls this aint. The two hour running time breezes by until we reach the point in her tale where the undertaker discovers her secret, to the amusement (female townsfolk) and chagrin (male townsfolk) of the residents of Ruby City.
This review of The Ballad of Little Jo (1993) was written by Alison O on 14 Dec 2003.
The Ballad of Little Jo has generally received positive reviews.
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