Kenny Rogers as The Gambler (1980) (TV)

Director:

Dick Lowry

Writers:

Jim Byrnes (screenplay)
Jim Byrnes (story)

Release Date:

8 April 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

You Got To Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold Em...

Plot:

Brady Hawkes, The Gambler, receives a letter from his son indicating he needs help. This sends Brady to the rescue...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Song

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win

Cast

Kenny Rogers	...	Brady Hawkes
Christine Belford	...	Eliza
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Billy Montana
Harold Gould	...	Arthur Stobridge
Clu Gulager	...	Rufe Bennett
Lance LeGault	...	Doc Palmer
Lee Purcell	...	Jennie Reed
Ronnie Scribner	...	Jeremiah
Noble Willingham	...	Conductor
Bruce M. Fischer	...	Tabor
Borah Silver	...	Botkin
Lew Brown	...	Johnson
Lee Paul	...	George
Robert Lussier	...	Crown
Edward Walsh	...	Charlie Rose

Also Known As:

The Gambler

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12

Company:

Ken Kragen Productions

Quotes:

Brady Hawkes: The question is... which two of you are willing to take the bullets? So the other two can do the cutting.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Muppets from Space (1999)

Excellent

This movie aired on television in the states on April 8 1980 starring the following, Kenny Rogers as Brady Hawkes he's the star of the movie and is known as the Gambler. Christine Bradford as Eliza is Brady Hawkes first wife and together they had a child name Jeremiah. Bruce Boxleitner as Billy Montana is a young gambler looking to make a name for himself. Harold Gould as Arthur Stobridge who's the owner of the train and the railroad Lee Purcell as Jennie Reed is a young woman on the train, and Clu Gulager as Rufe Bennett is the owner of the town where Eliza and Jeremiah live. Brady is riding hard in order to catch a train in El Paso Texas where he's headed for Yuma. Meanwhile inside the train station Billy Montana tries to make time with a young woman named Jennie Reed. However, Jennie is married so Billy gets involved in a poker game. The game has already started when Brady walks through the door. While Brady sits and watches the game, Billy is accused of cheating when Brady discovers that Billy wasn't the only one cheating. Brady tells Billy that he saw him cheating and Billy thinks that he can beat Brady honestly. However, since neither trusts the other the have Jennie deal the cards. Brady teaches Billy a very valuable lesson on gambling and when they start walking towards the train Billy finds out the name of the man that just beat him in cards. While on the train, Brady starts to read a letter that he received while playing poker in Kansas from a boy name Jeremiah. Jeremiah is Brady son, a son that he never knew he had and he and his mother are in trouble. Jeremiah is running around town when he caught by two of Rufe Bennett cronies. Bennett has the kid in his bar and wants to know what was in the letter that he sent to his dad. Just as Bennett goes to beat the boy, his mother Eliza walks into the saloon. Eliza tells Jeremiah to run and instead of hitting the boy, Bennett hits Eliza instead. Later that night Eliza tells Jeremiah to go to the next town on the stage and keep on the look out for his dad. If Brady is coming to help them, he has to go through this town. The question is will Brady come to help his son? Is Brady even on the train? Will Jeremiah be able to identify his father even though he doesn't know what he looks like? Here are some of my own personal thoughts about this movie. I thought this movie was excellent from beginning to end. Kenny Rogers was a world famous singer and now after this movie he will be known as a famous actor. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat right from the start. Even thought this movie had no real leading actress I'm giving this movie 10 weasel stars because of Kenny Rogers, his supporting cast, and the action, adventure and drama this movie put out.