The Apple Dumpling Gang

Three orphans strike gold in an abandoned mine and become involved with outlaws. Bill Bixby, Susan Clark, Don Knotts, Tim Conway. Bobby: Clay O’Brien. Clovis: Brad Savage. Celia: Stacy Manning. Clydesdale: David Wayne. Stillwell: Slim Pickens. McCoy: Harry Morgan. Directed by Norman Tokar., Disney comedy western in which a gambler saddled with three orphans ropes in a female coach driver to act as a mother figure, and the makeshift family heads for the abandoned goldmine of the kids’ late father. There they quickly find a huge nugget of gold, which attracts the attention of two lots of outlaws – including the orphans’ true guardian., The Apple Dumpling Gang stars Bill Bixby as Russell Donovan, a slick frontier gambler. In Runyon-esque fashion, he is compelled to look after three precocious oprhaned kids. He can’t handle the responsibilities alone, so he agrees to an in-name-only marriage to hoydenish stagecoach driver, Magnolia Dusty Clydesdale (Susan Clark). Fortuitously, they discover that a mine belonging to the kids’ late father is worth millions. This brings several disreputable characters into the storyline: bumbling “nice” bandits Theodore Ogelvie and Amos (Don Knotts and Tim Conway), and deadly “bad” bandits headed by Frank Stillwell (Slim Pickens). Based on a novel by Jack M. Bickham, The Apple Dumpling Gang was successful enough to spawn a sequel-not to mention several future screen teamings for Don Knotts and Tim Conway., This crazy crime caper takes off when three orphans discover an enormous gold nugget – and suddenly everyone wants to be their friend. Soon the criminal fraternity is alerted, and they’re plagued by a bunch of clueless crooks. Comic chaos abound., The Apple Dumpling Gang stars Bill Bixby as Russell Donovan, a slick frontier gambler. In Runyon-esque fashion, he is compelled to look after three precocious oprhaned kids. He can’t handle the responsibilities alone, so he agrees to an in-name-only marriage to hoydenish stagecoach driver, Magnolia Dusty Clydesdale (Susan Clark)., Mayhem ensues when three orphans strike gold in 19th century California. Family.