*** Welcome to piglix ***

The Gambler (film series)

Kenny Rogers as The Gambler
Genre Western
Written by Jim Byrnes
Cort Casady
Screenplay by Jim Byrnes
Directed by Dick Lowry
Starring Kenny Rogers
Theme music composer Larry Cansler
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Jim Byrnes
Cinematography Joseph F. Biroc
Editor(s) Jerrold L. Ludwig
Running time 105 min
Release
Original network CBS
Original release April 8, 1980
Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues
Genre Western
Screenplay by Jim Byrnes
Directed by Dick Lowry
Starring Kenny Rogers
Theme music composer Larry Cansler
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Jim Byrnes
Cinematography James Pergola
Editor(s) Bernard Balmuth
Byron Brandt
Running time 200 min
Release
Original network CBS
Original release November 28, 1983
Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues
Genre Western
Written by Jeb Rosebrook
Roderick Taylor
Directed by Dick Lowry
Starring Kenny Rogers
Theme music composer Larry Cansler
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Peter Burrell
Cinematography Robert M. Baldwin
Running time 240 min
Release
Original network CBS
Original release November 22, 1987
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
Genre Western
Written by Joe Byrne
Jeb Rosebrook
Directed by Dick Lowry
Starring Kenny Rogers
Rick Rossovich
Reba McEntire
Theme music composer Mark Snow
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Ann Kindberg
Editor(s) Anita Brandt-Burgoyne
Running time 240 min
Release
Original network NBC
Original release November 3, 1991
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps
Genre Western
Screenplay by Frank Q. Dobbs
Caleb Pirtle III
Story by Frank Q. Dobbs
David S. Cass, Sr.
Kelly Junkerman
Directed by Jack Bender
Starring Kenny Rogers
Theme music composer Larry Brown
Edgar Struble
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Kelly Junkerman
Ken Kragen
Cinematography Edward J. Pei
Editor(s) William B. Stich
Running time 91 min
Release
Original network CBS
Original release October 2, 1994

The Gambler is a series of American western television films starring Kenny Rogers as Brady Hawkes, a fictional old-west gambler. The character was inspired by Rogers' hit song "The Gambler". There are five movies in the series. The first four are directed by Dick Lowry while the last was directed by Jack Bender. The movies are:

Kenny Rogers as The Gambler (105 min) debuted on CBS on April 8, 1980. It was a ratings and critical success that has spawned four sequels. The show won a Best Edited Television Special Eddie Award and garnered two Emmy nominations (for cinematography and editing of a limited series).

Kenny Rogers stars as Brady Hawkes, the titular gambler, who embarks on a journey to meet Jeremiah (Ronnie Scribner), the young son he never knew after Jeremiah sends him a letter. Along the way, Brady meets Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner) and the two become friends. Billy (while trying to help Brady in his quest) fancies himself as a professional poker player on his own. Although Billy makes mistakes along the way (some of these include: trying to find a way to cheat or do some smooth talking), Brady makes sure that he stays on good behavior during a train ride to Yuma, CA. The duo help Jennie Reed (Lee Purcell), a prostitute who has trouble with a train baron. At the end, Brady's son's stepfather (Clu Gulager) is confronted.

The movie was produced by the fledgling Kragon and Co. production company. The ranch headquarters at Valle Grande in Valles Caldera, New Mexico was used as a filming location.

Kenny Rogers again stars as Brady Hawkes in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (200 min) which premiered on November 28 and 29, 1983. The show was an even bigger ratings success than the first and was nominated for two Emmy Awards (sound editing and sound mixing of a limited series).


...
Wikipedia

...