Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994) (TV)

Director:

Jack Bender

Writers (WGA):

Jim Byrnes (characters) &
Cort Casady (characters) ...

Release Date:

2 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Brady Hawkes has to run to his son's rescue once again in this continuation of the Gambler stories....

Plot Keywords:

Gambler | Based On Song | Beautiful Woman | Sequel

Cast

Kenny Rogers	...	Brady Hawkes
Scott Paulin	...	Butch Cassidy
Brett Cullen	...	Sundance Kid
Mariska Hargitay	...	Etta Place
Kris Kamm	...	Jeremiah Hawkes
Stephen Bridgewater	...	Flatnose Bill Curry
Richard Riehle	...	Frank Dimaio
Ned Vaughn	...	Ford Hayes
Martin Kove	...	Black Jack
Darrell Larson
Mark Walters
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Lynch
Kim Walker
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Billy Montana
Loni Anderson	...	Fanny Porter

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

In 1988, Mariska Hargitay and Brett Cullen played sister and brother (Carly Fixx and Dan Fixx, respectively) on "Falcon Crest" (1981).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Reno 911!: Security for Kenny Rogers (#2.8)" (2004)

Last entry in the ¨Gambler ¨ series along with Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid

The debonair gambler, Brady Hawkes,(Kenny Rogers) returns yet again, looking for his son Jeremiah united to Wild Bunch, formed by Butch Cassidy(Scott Paulin) and Sundance Kid(Brett Cullen). The Wild bunch flee to Bolivia and are followed by the Gambler, Etta Place(Mariska Hargitay) who, one time escaped from prison, cross country trip to Galveston and after sail in a ship, along with Pinkenton agents: DiMaggio(Richard Riehle) and Ford(Ned Vaughn). But in Bolivia the Wild Bunch is also wanted alive or dead.

This is an agreeable Western with lots of familiar television stars and with historic characters, such as Cassidy, Sundance Kid, Etta Place , Pinkerton agents and Lilie Langtry,the Judge Roy Bean's sweetheart.As always at the beginning and the ending is heard the stunning song by Kenny Rogers-The Gambler. The plot gets certain similarly to successful film by George Roy Hill with Paul Newman( role of Scott Paulin), Robert Redford(role of Brett Cullen) and Katherine Ross(Maryska Hargitay). This picture is professionally directed by Jack Bender, an usual TV episodes director as : ¨Lost, Soprano, Alias¨, among others.

Although various deeds are fictitious, this TV picture is based on real events, these are the following : Born Robert Parker(Butch Cassidy) and Harry Longbaugh(Sundance Kid). It seems they were eager to take up a life of crime. This notorious pair became rustlers in the mid-90, gaining fame as leaders of the Wild Bunch , a gang of train robbers. Butch adopted the name of Cassidy in admiration of Mike Cassidy, a rustler who taught him to shot and steal livestock, he was dubbed Butch from his short time working in butcher's shop. Still determined on a life of crime he formed a gang, and robbed banks and he moved into trains robberies after. One of the main gang was Sundance, they were sympathetic fellows described in a Pinkerton wanted poster as having an affable and cheerful manners. It is said that, though a crack shot , they never killed anybody and disliked gratuitous violence.They had the quick wit and strength of character to dominate more desperate men. With the Pinkerton and railroad agents hot on their trail, the Wild Bunch broke up and both sailed to South America after the turn of century and disappeared there, possibly dying in a shootout in 1909 near La Paz.