Little Miss Marker

A cynical, loan-sharking bookie named Bernie is tricked into taking custody of a young orphan girl named Amanda, who he believes is the daughter of a client who skipped out on a debt. However, he soon discovers that Amanda is not his client's daughter, but rather a pawn in a larger scheme. As Bernie reluctantly cares for Amanda, he begins to develop a soft spot for her and her innocent dreams of winning a beauty pageant.

Little Miss Marker (1980) received a mixed reception from critics and audiences. While some praised the performances, particularly Walter Matthau's gruff yet endearing turn, others found the story overly sentimental and predictable. It was generally seen as a heartwarming, family-friendly film with a strong comedic element, though it didn't achieve widespread critical acclaim.

• Praised for Walter Matthau's performance and a heartwarming premise.
• Criticized for being overly sentimental and a predictable storyline.
• Considered a charming, albeit flawed, family comedy-drama.

Google audience: Audience reviews generally found the film to be a cute and heartwarming story with a strong performance from Walter Matthau, though some noted its sentimentality and predictable plot.

This film is a remake of the 1934 film of the same name, which starred Shirley Temple in her breakthrough role.