Kenny Rogers Movies
Bearded, amiable American singer/actor Kenny Rogers launched his professional career as a member of the New Christy Minstrels, then first rose to fame as a member of the country-pop group the First Edition. After several years of hits like "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (as well as popular syndicated TV series Rollin' on the River), the First Edition broke up in 1974. Rogers had some lean years immediately after the split, at one point making ends meet by promoting a correspondence school guitar course. The outlook became brighter in 1976 when Rogers recorded his first solo hit, "Love Lifted Me," which he followed up with the even more popular ballad "Lucille." He regained his following with a dozen TV specials and several duets with equally renowned female country artists. In 1980, Rogers made his TV-movie debut with The Gambler (1980), an agreeable Western based on one of his more successful songs ("You gotta know when to hold 'em/know when to fold 'em...etc."). The Gambler scored an immediate ratings coup, inspiring sequels over the next decade, the best of which was The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991), which had the added drawing card of guest appearances by several popular TV cowboy stars of days gone by. Rogers also pleased the crowd with the made-for-TV Coward of the County (1981), a dramatized elaboration of another of his top-selling songs. Less successful was Kenny Rogers' starring theatrical feature, Six Pack (1982), which proves that having six cute kids onscreen doesn't make you a Disney-quality hit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1970
- PG
In this drama, a romance is sparked when two people, dissatisfied with their lives, move to San Francisco in hope of a fresh start. Ex-horror star Matthew South (Jason Robards, Jr.) encounters unhappily-married Anais Appleton (Katharine Ross) and the two fall in love. Their newfound happiness is threatened, however, when Anais' jealous husband David (Scott Appleton) sets out to find her. Songs by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition are featured in this film. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards, Jr., Katharine Ross, (more)
- 1975
James Franciscus stars as a university professor with an eye on bigger things. Using his inherent promotional know-how, he launches a career in the record industry, eventually operating his own top-selling label. To insure that the local stations will run his artists' recordings, Franciscus crosses certain deejays' palms with silver. That's called payola, and that's against the law. His empire shattered, Franciscus is reduced to cabdriving to earn a living--and by the end of the film he's neither earning nor living. Singer Kenny Rogers makes his acting debut as one of Franciscus' clients; also featured is Rogers' former First Edition colleague Mickey Jones. Made for television, The Dream Makers has pretenses of profundity, but ultimately is as pointless as its abrupt climax. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
In the 1960s and '70s, Mike Douglas was the host of one of America's most popular TV talk shows. In his 22 years on the air, Douglas was famous for presenting a dizzying variety of entertainers and newsmakers, and this video features 75 minutes of great moments from the show's heyday. Guests featured in this collection include Kenny Rogers, Frank Zappa, Jimmy Walker, Donny & Marie Osmond, and Elayne Boosler. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Most famous for their blockbuster hit singles "Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Do That to Me One More Time," the soft rock team of Captain and Tennille (husband and wife Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille) peaked in popularity from 1975 through 1976; they performed for the likes of Gerald Ford, swept up a massive fanbase and even landed an eponymous musical variety series on ABC from late September 1976 through mid-March 1977. Unfortunately, that program soon folded due to low ratings; subsequent years saw the pair mounting a series of follow-up network specials of varying content. Per its title, the 1978 Captain and Tennille in Hawaii finds the husband-and-wife team on location in the land of the luau, with the express purpose of "finding the real Hawaii." The program, however, consists mainly of the titular duo and guest stars, including Kenny Rogers and David Soul, performing comedy sketches and musical numbers against picturesque Hawaiian backdrops. Songs include: Rogers on "Love Or Something Like It," Soul on "Tomorrow's Child" and Tennille on "Just the Way You Are." ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille, (more)
When first telecast on April 8, 1980, this made-for-TV movie was titled Kenny Rogers as The Gambler. Jim Byrnes' teleplay is loosely inspired by Rogers' Grammy award-winning song. Rogers plays high-rolling gambler Brady Hawkes, who is en route from El Paso to Yuma to see the son he never knew. Along the way, Hawkes befriends Billy Montana (Bruce Boxleitner), feckless Eastern tinhorn. The twosome comes to the aid of reformed "lady of the evening" Jennie Reed (Lee Purcell), who is pursued by an unprincipled train baron. At the end, Brynes must stand up to his son's cruel stepfather (Clu Gulager). A huge ratings success, The Gambler inspired four sequels over the next two decades. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenny Rogers, Bruce Boxleitner, (more)
- 1981
Made for television, the pacifist philosophy of a Georgia preacher (Kenny Rogers) and his nephew are tested when the nephew's girlfriend is raped. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
When a retired stock car driver, Brewster Baker (Kenny Rogers), meets up with a group of orphans intent on dismantling his car, he takes them under his wing and sets them to work helping him return to the racing scene. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenny Rogers, Diane Lane, (more)
- 1983
This two-part TV movie was originally titled Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues. A follow-up to Rogers' phenomenally successful 1980 made-for-TV The Gambler, the film charts the further adventures of frontier "plunger" Brady Hawkes (played by Rogers, of course). Also making a return appearance is Bruce Boxleitner as Brady's bucolic protégé Billy Montana. This time around, Linda Evans guest-stars as sexy bounty hunter Kate Muldoon, who helps Brady rescue his kidnapped son. When this second Gambler film was first telecast on November 28 and 29, 1983, it proved to be even more popular than the first, leading to still more sequels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
"For Your Eyes Only," "Out Here on My Own" and "Wing Beneath My Wings" are performed by Easton. Al Jarreau performs "Roof Garden." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1984
A former rodeo champion gets an insatiable hunkering to get back in the saddle and ride out on a wild horse round up in this made-for-TV western adventure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenny Rogers, Pam Dawber, (more)
- 1985
This musical presentation features Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton doing "Lady" and other favorites. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1986
- PG
Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas team up one last time in Tough Guys. Harry Doyle (Lancaster) and Archie Lang (Douglas) are two old-time train robbers, who held up a train in 1956 and have been incarcerated for thirty years. After serving their time, they are released from jail and have to adjust to a new life of freedom, now as old men. Harry and Archie realize that they still have the pizzazz when, picking up their prison checks at a bank, they foil a robbery attempt. Archie, who spent his prison time pumping himself up, easily picks up a 20-year-old aerobics instructor named Skye (Darlanne Fluegel). Harry, on the other hand, has to waste away his days in a nursing home. They both have festering resentments --Archie for having to endure a humiliating job as a busboy; Harry for having to endure patronizing attitudes toward senior citizens. The two old pals finally go back to what they know best. After successfully robbing an armored car, they decide to rob the same train that they robbed thirty years ago. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, (more)
- 1987
This made-for-TV movie is the second follow-up to the astonishingly successful Kenny Rogers as the Gambler (1980). Rogers returns as Old West gambler Brady Hawkes, while Bruce Boxleitner, Rogers' co-star in 1983's The Gambler: The Adventure Continues, is also back as Hawkes' sidekick Billy Montana. Others in the cast include Linda Gray as adventuress Mary Collins, Jeffrey Jones as Buffalo Bill Cody and George American Horse as Sitting Bull. This time around, Brady and Billy try to protect the Sioux Nation from corrupt, treaty-breaking cavalry officers who've been stealing cattle and shifting the blame to the Indians. The Gambler III: The Legend Continues debuted November 22, 1987, an occasion celebrated by a TV Guide cover story. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
- Add Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, Vol. 1: With Ike and Tina Turner Revue and Gladys Knight and the Pi to QueueAdd Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, Vol. 1: With Ike and Tina Turner Revue and Gladys Knight and the Pi to top of Queue
This musical performance features Kenny Rogers doing "Proud Mary" and others with the First Edition. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1990
This musical presentation by Kenny Rogers includes tunes like "This Woman." "Twenty Years Ago" and others. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1991
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The fourth of Kenny Rogers' Gambler TV movies, 1991's The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw is regarded by many Western diehards as the best. This time, gambler Brady Hawkes is en route to a high-stakes poker game in San Francisco. His travelling companions are a trouble-prone frontier Romeo (Rick Rossovich) and a feisty ex-saloon gal (Reba McEntire). Never mind that: The real attraction of Luck of the Draw is its enormous guest-star lineup of famous TV cowboy heroes of yore: Gene "Bat Masterson" Barry, Hugh "Wyatt Earp" O'Brien, Brian "The Westerner" Keith, Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors, Jack "Maverick" Kelly, Clint "Cheyenne" Walker, David "Kung Fu" Carradine, and "Virginian" co-stars James Drury and Doug McClure. The first portion of this two-part movie concentrates on setting up the plot; Part two is the card game itself, preceded by a boxing match refereed by Bat Masterson (Gene Barry). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire, (more)
The mock heavy-metal band Spinal Tap (actually comedians Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer) return to duty in this made-for-TV sequel to Rob Reiner's 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, filmed to promote the group's album Break Like the Wind. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, (more)
- 1992
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It's Christmastime with Kenny Rogers as the lovable country star gives four kids their Christmas wish as they sit front row at an all-star holiday bash thrown by the Gambler himself. With the help of Boyz II Men, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood, the ensemble brings you tidings and joy with such holiday classics as "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas". ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Though brief, the period of exploration and expansion known as the Wild West has long had a strong grip on the psyche of the American nation. From the lonely cowboy to the sinister and romantic vision of the outlaw and gunslinger, the iconography of the American West is inextricably bound to our consideration of who we are as Americans. Each episode of The Real West examines an aspect of this legendary phase of American history and attempts to divide myth from fact to present a more historical view of this near mythical era. In this particular entry, viewers investigate the life and times of Dodge City, a wide-open town if there ever was one. The program is narrated by Kenny Rogers. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Though brief, the period of exploration and expansion known as the Wild West has long had a strong grip on the psyche of the American nation. From the lonely cowboy to the sinister and romantic vision of the outlaw and gunslinger, the iconography of the American West is inextricably bound to our consideration of who we are as Americans. Each episode of The Real West examines an aspect of this legendary phase of American history and attempts to divide myth from fact to present a more historical view of this near-mythical era. In this particular entry, viewers investigate the legendary origins of a legendary group of Texas lawmen. Kenny Rogers narrates. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Though brief, the period of exploration and expansion known as the Wild West has long had a strong grip on the psyche of the American nation. From the lonely cowboy to the sinister and romantic vision of the outlaw and gunslinger, the iconography of the American West is inextricably bound to our consideration of who we are as Americans. Each episode of The Real West examines an aspect of this legendary phase of American history and attempts to divide myth from fact to present a more historical view of this near-mythical era. In this particular entry, viewers take a look at some of the famous lawmen that finally brought a semblance of order to the frontier. The program is narrated by Kenny Rogers. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide
