Taglines: Where the pros meet the cons.
Diggstown movie storyline. Gabriel Caine (James Woods), a con man, is released from prison in Winfield, Georgia and immediately gets to work on his next scam. Caine and his partner, Fitz (Oliver Platt), travel to a small town not far from the prison: Diggstown, a city obsessed with boxing.
A mean-spirited man named John Gillon (Bruce Dern) owns almost all of Diggstown. He is feared by many but also respected because he was the former manager of Diggstown’s pride and joy, the once-famous boxer Charles Macom Diggs, the man for whom the town is named. Upon hearing a remark that Diggs once knocked out five fighters in one day, Fitz “drunkenly” says he knows of a fighter who could knock out any 10 in one day: Honey Roy Palmer. Gillon tries to take advantage of the situation and bets Fitz $100,000 that no one man can best ten Diggstown boxers in one day. Caine quickly volunteers to finance Fitz’s bet and the con is on.
Caine seeks out an old buddy, Palmer (Louis Gossett Jr.), who is now a 48-year-old YMCA supervisor. After some initial reluctance, Palmer agrees to participate and starts to train for the fight. Caine and Gillon agree to various conditions of the bet, with “one day” being 24 full hours and “Diggstown fighters” being able to come from any surrounding area of Olivair County. A loan shark backs Caine’s bet, with the understanding that his health and welfare will be riding on the outcome.
Diggstown, also known as Midnight Sting, is a 1992 American sports comedy drama film directed by Michael Ritchie, and stars James Woods, Louis Gossett, Jr., Oliver Platt, Heather Graham, Bruce Dern, Thomas Wilson Brown, Duane Davis, David Fresco, Kim Robillard and Michael McGrady.
Diggstown (1992)
Directed by: Michael Ritchie
Starring: James Woods, Louis Gossett, Jr., Oliver Platt, Heather Graham, Bruce Dern, Thomas Wilson Brown, Duane Davis, David Fresco, Kim Robillard, Michael McGrady
Screenplay by: Steven McKay
Production Design by: Stephen Hendrickson
Cinematography by: Gerry Fisher
Film Editing by: Don Zimmerman
Costume Design by: Wayne A. Finkelman
Set Decoration by: Barbara Drake
Art Direction by: Okowita
Music by: James Newton Howard
MPAA Rating: R for language.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: August 14, 1992
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