How to Frame a Figg

How to Frame a Figg, starring Don Knotts

How to Frame a Figg is a long-time favorite Don Knotts movie. Don stars as Hollis Figg, one of the bookkeepers for the small, but corrupt, town of Dalton. In an attempt to frame someone else for their own shenanigans, the town leaders purchase a second-hand mainframe computer and fire everyone except Figg, who becomes responsible for running the computer, as well as becoming the fall guy for the town’s financial corruption —hence, the title. As you can likely guess, Don Knotts fights back in his own jittery way, eventually winning the day and the girl.

Some favorite bits include a graveyard scene, when Don Knotts is literally “digging up” secrets, and the battle with the extension cords at the end – truly hilarious, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Editorial review of How to Frame a Figg, starring Don Knotts, courtesy of Amazon.com

Tagline: Runaway hilarity when Don Knotts runs down City Hall…in search of the buried secrets of a gang of crooked politicians the movie the entire family will enjoy!

Plot Synopsis: Don Knotts is Hollis Figg, the dumbest bookkeeper in town. When the city fathers buy a second-hand computer to cover up their financial shenanigans, they promote Figg to look after things, knowing he’ll never catch on. Their plan backfires when Figg becomes self-important and accidentally discovers their plot.

Funny movie quotes from How to Frame a Figg

Mayor Robert Chisholm (Edward Andrews): [elevator grinds to a halt] Well, we cheated death again, Max.

Grace (Fay DeWitt): All right, which one of you wanted the clean menu?

Grace (Fay DeWitt): Is that all you two ever do – he flaps and you wave?
Ema Letha Kusic (Elaine Joyce): Uh huh.
Grace (Fay DeWitt): I hope you’re on the pill.

Hollis Alexander Figg (Don Knotts): [looks around the apartment] How do you do all this on your salary?
Glorianna Hastings (Yvonne Craig): Uh, well, blue-chip stamps.

Cast of characters

Don Knotts (The Andy Griffith Show, The Incredible Mr. Limpet) … Hollis Alexander Figg
Joe Flynn (McHale’s Navy) … Kermit Sanderson
Edward Andrews (The Strongest Man in the World, Gremlins) … Mayor Robert Chisholm
Elaine Joyce (Bye Bye Birdie) … Ema Letha Kusic
Yvonne Craig (Batman, In Like Flint) … Glorianna Hastings
Frank Welker (Spawn) … Prentiss Gates
Parker Fennelly (The Russians Are Comin) … Old Charley Spaulding
Bill Zuckert (Ace Ventura) … Commissioner Henderson
Pitt Herbert (Dear Brigitte) … Dr. Schmidt
Robert P. Lieb … Commissioner Hayes
Bob Hastings (No Deposit No Return, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm) … Chris Groat
Bruce Kirby … Dale Groat
Stuart Nisbet … Gentry Groat
James Millhollin (Never a Dull Moment, No Time for Sergeants) … Funeral Director
Fay DeWitt (I’ll Take Sweden) … Grace
Savannah Bentley … Ethel Purvis
Athena Lorde … Agnes
Bill Quinn … Asst. Atty. Gen. John Carmoni
John Archer (Destination Moon) … Gerard
Eddie Quillan (Move Over Darling, Brigadoon) … Old Man
Benny Rubin (The Red Skelton Show, The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini) … Max
Billy Sands … Bowling Alley Manager