The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag (1992): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag is a 1992 mystery thriller directed by Allan Moyle, starring Penelope Ann Miller as Betty Lou, Alfre Woodard and Eric Thal. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes and earned $3.7 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 29m (89 min)
- Director
- Allan Moyle
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Touchstone Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag About?
The premise of The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
She was a nobody until someone found… A Southern librarian puts excitement in her life with a found murder weapon and a false confession.
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag Themes & Keywords
· 30 tags- mistake
- misunderstanding
- police
- librarian
- gun
- gangster
- lie
- prison
- motel
- shot in the head
- shot to death
- storytime
+18 more Show fewer
- fundraiser
- finding a gun
- public bathroom
- shooting a mirror
- mugshot
- slashing a car tire
- arrest
- black humor
- handbag
- jail
- book
- police station
- watching tv
- murder
- apostrophe in title
- library
- hitman
- character name in title
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag Cast & Characters
Penelope Ann Miller leads the cast as Betty Lou, with Alfre Woodard as Ann and Eric Thal as Alex. Directed by Allan Moyle; 54 actors are credited in all.
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Director Allan Moyle
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Penelope Ann Miller as Betty Lou -
Alfre Woodard as Ann - Eric Thal as Alex
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Frank Welker as Scarlett's Vocal (voice)
Also Starring in The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag
· 50 more- Julianne Moore Elinor
- William Forsythe Beaudeen
- Stanley Tucci Amos (uncredited)
- Xander Berkeley Marchat
- Catherine Keener Suzanne
- Red West Judge
- Cathy Moriarty Reba
- Michael O'Neill Jergens
- Adam Shankman Timid Man
- Ellen McElduff Joan
- Don Keith Opper Dell
- Billie Neal Gail
- Andy Romano Herrick
- Meat Loaf Larry
- Ray McKinnon Frank
- Marian Seldes Margaret Armstrong
Show all 54 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Suzanne Kent Townsperson
- Paul Bates Officer Finney
- Faye Grant Charleen
- Dianna Miranda Chiropractor
- Reathel Bean Bob Barnes
- Robert Jackson Irate Man
- Gale Mayron Pearl
- Christopher John Fields Brown
- Bernard Canepari Mayor
- Jeff O'Haco Bar Fighter
- John McCauley Farmer
- Marisa Miller April
- Deborah Spector Cashier
- Margaret Graham Perms
- Bill Mullen Officer George
- Cordell Jackson Bathroom Lady
- Barry Hannah Court Clerk
- Lida Burris Gibson Lydia Williams
- Ralph Braseth Reporter
- M.J. Etua Reporter
- Christine Joyce Reporter
- Mark Magill Glen
- Merrill Healy Gary
- Jane Smithwick Freckled Girl
- Ruddy L. Garner FBI Wiretapper
- Laura Boenheim Autograph Girl
- Nash Germany Teenage Boy
- Lesha Campbell Teenage Girl
- Ann Fisher-Wirth Young Matron
- Kay McDuffie Perms
- Billy Holcomb Farmer
- Charles Treas Old Man
- Amanda Zenil Radical Girl
- Barton Segal Barton
More from Allan Moyle
More films directed by Allan Moyle, best-rated first: Pump Up the Volume, New Waterford Girl, Empire Records and Weirdsville.
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag Plot Summary
What happens in The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Betty Lou Perkins, Penelope Ann Miller, is a meek librarian in New Orleans who is ignored by everyone, including her uninspiring police detective husband, Alex, Eric Thal. A criminal kingpin is killed in cold blood, and Betty Lou finds the murder gun, a discovery that sets a chain of risky events in motion. She goes to the police station to tell them about the gun, hoping for a sympathetic ear, but no one listens until she actually fires the weapon at a trash can in the bathroom. However, when the other characters—including Alex—don’t know she can hear them, they all conclude she is innocent because she’s too boring and timid to ever do anything at all, let alone anything wrong.
Full summary
The whole story of The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag, scene by scene
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag Box Office
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag grossed $3.7 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$3.7M
- US & Canada
- $3.7M
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag.
How Well Do You Know The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Betty Lou Perkins' profession at the start of the film?
Cars in The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag
21 cars on screen, including the 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado and the 1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille.
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1973 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Important role -
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Important role -
1992 Ford Bronco Important role -
1974 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Minor role
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag Also Known As
9 alternative titles, including “Un Flingue pour Betty Lou” and “Betty Lou - Der ganz normale Wahnsinn”.
- Also known as
-
- Un Flingue pour Betty Lou
- Betty Lou - Der ganz normale Wahnsinn
- Um Perigo de Mulher
- Пистолет в сумочке Бетти Лу
- 红粉煞星
- Mordály a tarsolyomban
- Por fin, soy culpable
- 총을 든 내 아내
- La pistola nella borsetta
Seen The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag?
Movies Like The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including My Gun Is Quick, A Gun in His Hand and The Hat Box Mystery.
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag?
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).
When was The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag released?
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag was released on August 21, 1992.
Who directed The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag?
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag was directed by Allan Moyle.
More films by Allan Moyle Who is in the cast of The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag?
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag stars Penelope Ann Miller as Betty Lou, Alfre Woodard as Ann and Eric Thal as Alex, among 54 credited actors.
How much did The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag make at the box office?
The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag grossed $3.7 million worldwide.
Does The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag have a post-credit scene?
No. The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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