The Gambler (1980)

 I got to see this movie on DVD, but I've loved the song all my life. I'm pretty sure it's one of the first songs I've ever memorized, as my mother loved Kenny Rogers so much. This movie doesn't follow the song exactly, but it tells of many gamblers, mainly Billy Montana, played by Scarecrow and Mrs. King star Bruce Boxleitner and of course, Brady Hawkes played by Kenny Rogers. Billy is young and plays poker anywhere he can, until he plays Brady. Brady wipes him out and teaches him a lesson. On the other side of things, Brady has a young son named Jeremiah, played by Ronnie Scribner. Jeremiah and his ma stay with a mean man named Rufe Bennett played by Clu Galager. Also mixed up on a train ride to find Rufe, Brady plays a card game with Doc Palmer, played by Lance LeGault. He is my favorite character. He's an honest gambler and when someone wins fair and square, he calls it honorably. His backer is Arthur Stobridge, played by Harold Gould, who thinks he can buy anything and anyone because he owns the railway. I enjoyed this - I enjoy a good western with good character actors and high stakes on the line and getting to see if Kenny could really act. He throws a good punch, I can tell you that, but over-all he's a stoic actor. But it's good to see Scarecrow do a different character, as Boxleitner himself does have a good range. I understand there are more movies with Kenny Rogers with The Gambler and I'd like to see them some day.