Gambler Collection, The (3-disc) The Gambler 1 & 2 + Coward of the county (Kenny Rogers)

The Gambler Collection

Kenneth Donald Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American country music singer-songwriter. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences, but also charted more than 120 hit singles across various genres, topping the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone. He sold more than 100 million records worldwide during his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Rogers also had success as an actor. While made-for-TV movies such as The Gambler series and Coward of the County (based on hit songs of his) topped ratings lists.

The Gambler Collection contains the following films:

The Gambler (1980)

The Gambler - Part II: The Adventure Continues (1983)

BONUS FILM: Coward of the county

The Gambler (1980)

Brady Hawkes (Kenny Rogers) is a super gambler who suddenly has to save the son he never knew. Brady befriends Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner), who considers himself a professional poker player. A strong friendship develops between the two - a friendship that is put to the test during a heady train ride to Yuma, California. Rogers' amazing charisma shines through in his role as Brady Hawkes (aka 'The Gambler'), and Rogers is flanked by a host of stars in the supporting roles, including Bruce Boxleitner, Christine Belford, Lance LeGault and Lee Purcell.

The Gambler - Part II: The Adventure Continues (1983)

Brady Hawkes, alias 'The Gambler', his son Jeremiah and Billy Montana are on their way to a gambling event in San Francisco when they encounter the dreaded McCourt gang (led by Mitch Ryan). The gang kidnaps Jeremiah and demands a $1 million ransom. Brady and Billy team up with Kate Muldoon (Linda Evans), the fastest woman in the West, in a race against time to rescue Jeremiah.

Bonus Film: Coward of the County (1981)

The film stars Rogers as Tommy's uncle Reverend Matthew Spencer (who sang the song in the film), and features Fredric Lehne as Tommy Spencer, Largo Woodruff as Becky and William Schreiner as James Joseph "Jimmy Joe" Gatlin, the lead bully of the Gatlin family clan. The movie added several characters not mentioned in the song, including Car-Wash (Noble Willingham), a friend of the Spencers, Violet (Ana Alicia), another local girl who is also in love with Tommy and Lem Gatlin (Joe Dorsey), the father of the Gatlin boys.

Set in small-town Georgia during the onset of America's involvement in World War II, the film's plot expands on the story in the song. Jimmy Joe Gatlin proclaims that Becky is his girl, although Becky repeatedly states that she is not. Her rejection of Jimmy Joe's advances and her romance with Tommy cause the Gatlins to assault Becky just days before she and Tommy are to be married.

In a huge barroom brawl with the Gatlins, Tommy prevails with the help of Matthew, who has recently resigned his position with the church. After the Gatlin brothers are convicted for gang-raping Becky, Tommy joins the Marines and must report for duty after his wedding to Becky, and the church deacons invite Matthew to return.