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- 1995
This musical biography chronicles the life of influential country music superstar Dottie West. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michele Lee, Kenny Rogers, (more)
- 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)
- 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
- 1993
Kevin Rogers guest stars as David Watkins, a famed Civil War photographer. As the townsfok argue over who will be include and who will be left out of Watkins' proposed panoramic portrait of Colorado Springs, Dr. Mike (Jane Seymour) comes to realize that the photographer is suffering from diabetes -- and refuses to have it treated, even though he is rapidly losing his eyesight. Meanwhile, the dying Mrs. Bing (Rosemary Murphy) staunchly opposes the marriage between her son Horace (Frank Collinson) and Myra (Helene Udy). This was the final episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Lando, Chad Allen, (more)
- 2004
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Rock out to 50 years of the King of Rock & Roll with this celebration of the man, the myth and the legend himself, Elvis Presley. Containing never-before-seen interviews with his closest peers inside and out of the music industry, follow rock's biggest icon from his early days with Sam Phillips and Sun Records through his untimely death in 1977 from the people that were there to see it all happen. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, 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)
- 1997
If there is any doubt that this made-for-TV movie is the authorized biography of singer Barbara Mandrell, the fact that the singer plays "herself" in the wraparound sequences should settle all bets. Otherwise, former Brady Bunch regular Maureen McCormick is seen as Barbara, whose life is chronicled from her early years as a musical prodigy (she played the accordion) to her first blush of TV stardom in the company of her sisters Irlene (played by Mandrell's real-life daughter Jaime Dudney) and Louise (Portia Dawson), moving ever forward to her solo superstardom and climaxing with her near-fatal 1984 car accident. The remainder of the drama details Barbara's spectacular post-crash comeback, which involved not only intense physical rehabilitation but also extensive spiritual therapy. Also showing up as themselves are Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Coproduced by Mandrell's husband Ken Dudney (herein played by Greg Kean, Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story made its CBS network bow on September 28, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
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This musical performance features Kenny Rogers doing "Proud Mary" and others with the First Edition. ~ All Movie Guide
- 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
- 1990
This musical presentation by Kenny Rogers includes tunes like "This Woman." "Twenty Years Ago" and others. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2001
Dreamcatcher Records presents Kenny Rogers: A&E Live By Request, a live performance program originally shown on A&E. Released in 2001, the presentation includes the Rogers classics "Islands in the Stream," "Daytime Friends," "She Believes in Me," "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," "Love Will Turn You Around," "The Greatest," "Love or Something Like It," "Through the Years," "Lucille," "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer," "Coward of the County," "Lady," "Crazy," "The Gambler," "We've Got Tonight," and "You Decorated My Life." ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1985
This musical presentation features Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton doing "Lady" and other favorites. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1994
In this feature-length episode, Mac Shayne is busily trying to prove a pop star innocent of murder charges when he stumbles across a conspiracy to kill an up-and-coming politician. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenny Rogers, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- 1994
An ex-convict traveling to Las Vegas to visit his son is forced to re-enter the high-stakes world of casino poker in order to win back his family in a tense tale of family loyalty starring Kenny Rogers and Terry O'Quinn. There was a time when John J. "Jack" MacShayne (Rogers) was the best gambler in all of Las Vegas, but upon traveling back to his old haunts the ex-convict discovers that Sin City has been transformed into a homogenized vacation destination for the whole family. When MacShayne is unable to locate his wife and son, ex-policeman Danny Leggett (O'Quinn) offers to reveal the pair's whereabouts if the former gambler agrees to defeat a particularly formidable opponent at the tables. If MacShayne should win, Leggett and his partner will be able to carry out their plan of robbing the casino. Should his opponent win, however, MacShayne stands to lose much more than a simple game of cards. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenny Rogers
Stars of country music fill out the cast of this made-for-TV western. Kenny Rogers plays a bounty hunter who sets off with his newlywed partner (Travis Tritt) to track down the kidnappers who ran off with Tritt's wife (Laura Harring). ~ Jason Ankeny, 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
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)
This documentary features an all-star performance of a song devoted to Christian evangelist Billy Graham. The program also features interviews with people who have been moved by the man's life's work. Among the celebrities involved in this project are Pat Boone, Reba McEntire, and Bono. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 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
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)
- 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
- 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)
