Gambler V: Playing for Keeps

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.

I just won this movie off Ebay, and being a die-hard Mariska Hargitay fan, I was very pleased and entertained by this movie. If you enjoyed the previous Gambler movies, this one will not disappoint. It was very well-planned out and captivating right from the start. This movie is the story of Brady Hawkes trying to find his son, who has become tangled with Butch and the Sundance Kid's Wild Bunch. It follows their adventures through bank robberies, train explosions, and being chased by the Pinkertons. This movie is very historically accurate and very informative. The characters were genuinely portrayed, and it was interesting to see how the plot unfolded. It was also very interesting for me to see Ms. Hargitay in a western!!! Very entertaining and fun from start to finish!!

As incredible as it seems, The Gambler was so successful that later became in pentalogy, here in Brazil the dealer mislead the customers at released the fifty entry and labeled the DVD just The Gambler as if was the first one, don't get me wrong, but I don't like be fooled by this trick merchandise.

Anyway I watched it last night, the beloved Kenny Rogers was the producer and also de leading role as Brad Hawkes, a bit fat by the way, now about to retire when he win in a poker game a ranch from his old buddy Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner) that broke his leg fixing the roof in order to make just a shortest appearance, when he saw in a newspaper a large photograph of the legendary wild bunch robbers Butch Cassidy (Scott Paulin) and Sundance Kid (Brett Cullen) which appears a youngest new member that at once Brad recognized as his son Jeremiah (Kris Kamm), then to avoid his death Brad headed to his last sighting.

Meanwhile the wild bunch Butch & Sundance explode a train station due the overstate charge aiming for blast the safe by own Jeremiah in charge of dealing with dynamite, he was renamed as Finger, on fail attempt, the Pinkertons already are there surround the place to arrest the gang, one of them Black Jack (Martin Kove) is hit by a bullet and so much bleeding, quickly the gang running away toward their secret hideout, Black Jack stayed there for a recover and the gang settle the next endeavor on a successful train robbery, soon Black Jack is arrest by Pinkertons and taken to be hanged in a small town, Brad disguised as hangman reaches on Black Jack on jail in order to find out Jeremiah's whereabouts, before he will be catch by the relentless Pinkertons lead by the hound Frank Dimaio (Richard Riehle).

Apart it's a low budge TV movie, it somehow deserves respect due for colorful characters spreading all along, an average screenplay offering a good entertainment neo-western, from whom takes place on twilight of 19th century, gorgeous ladies, yep those easy women, old locomotives, fine period outfits good supporting casting and so for, the best thank God for Kenny Rogers didn't sing any song, if had he'll spoils the picture.

Resume:

First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.25.

The fourth one was my favorite! Very interesting and entertaining! This one had its moments but I found it mostly long and boring and a lot of similarities to the other movies except everything was done worse. Also the actor that played Brady's son I found extremely unlikable. Also I don't see why billy Montana wasn't in the whole movie? To top that off the plot of the second movie was Brady chasing Jeremiah across the country (sound familiar) that one was a classic though and this was definitely not! In my opinion this is a blemish on an otherwise pretty fun series! Yup they should've stopped at 4!!!

I bought this used for my birthday this year because of my favorite actor Brett Cullen. Plus, watching Loni Anderson (My Mother's Secret Life with Amanda Wyss) is a pleasure too. However, I find Bruce Boxleitner having a small cameo very depressing since he had been a excellent actor in the other Gambler movies. Meanwhile Brady Kawkes travels cross country to rescue his son Jeremiah who has joined The Wild Bunch lead by Butch Cassidy (Scott Paulin) and The Sundance Kid (Brett Cullin) before it's too late. Furthermore, the bear in the movie is so funny too.