Time-Life
Columbia Broadcasting System

Today’s feature is a tale of two steam locomotives — mostly filmed at the Old Tucson Studios whose star attraction was ex-Virginia & Truckee #11, “Reno”. According to Larry Jensen’s “Hollywood’s Railroads, Volume One”, ex-Dardanelle & Russellville #8, also appeared in this made-for-TV movie and therein lies my quandary.

I can’t tell the engines apart. Both are 4-4-0’s. Both burn oil. V&T #11 was built by Baldwin in 1872. D&R #8 was built by Alco (Cooke) in 1888. From all the screen caps and pictures I’ve seen, these two could be twins.

SO. For identification purposes throughout my review, I will refer to the locomotive as it is painted — Southern Pacific Railroad #8.

Update: Many Thanks to blog reader Caldwell Butler, who has identified the locomotive below as D&R #8.

The entire 94 minute movie takes place in or around a train, so let’s explore Kenny Rogers’ journey “On a train bound to nowhere” (or in this case, to Yuma). At the bottom of this review, is a 3 1/2 minute video of “The Gambler” song on which this movie is based.

SP #8 is at full gallop with its passenger train on a nice, flat stretch of track. How about that MOD S.P.R.R. lettering on the tender? Is that a funky font or what?

Our story begins at El Paso, Texas. I’m pretty sure this is Reno #11 as you can see “Baldwin Locomotive Works Philadelphia” beneath the false #8 on the front. A look down the street of Old Tucson at the 4-4-0 and its two car train.

As the fireman tends to the locomotive, the conductor and rather corpulent station agent (sporting his de rigueur eye shade) spot a stranger in town. Brady Hawkes (played by Kenny Rogers) has arrived on horseback at the SP depot and stands next to a Union Pacific “Omaha” poster. UP went nowhere near El Paso.

Brady watches a poker game and discovers one of the men is cheating. He exposes the cheat (with cards literally up his sleeve) and chats up the just-off-the-farm and inexperienced Billy Montana (played by Bruce Boxleitner).

Hey, Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat! Again? Nothin’ up my sleeve…PRESTO! Tiger ROARS!

Okay, back to the trains.

Billy asks the conductor when the train is leaving. It turns out, they’re waiting for a VIP to show up.

From RIGHT to LEFT alongside the Reno:

• President of the Railroad, Arthur Stobridge (played by Harold Gould)
• George, the President’s Bodyguard, (played by Lee Paul)
• Jennie Reed, a lady with a questionable past – now a schoolmarm heading to Sacramento (played by Lee Purcell).
• Brady and Billy.

NOTICE: The tracks appear to end at a fence.

Detail shots: Blowing the whistle (they did that a lot) and ringing the bell.

As SP #8 scoots along, we get our best view of the first coach – with its unusual window pattern. Views inside the second coach (President’s Car) are much more sumptuous.

View of the lounge end of the car, complete with roulette wheel. Here we see the Stobridge with his mistress, Lilly, (played by Cathy Worthington). The big boss caps it all off with a magnificent feast in the dining room.

Back in coach, things aren’t so posh. Spartan furnishings, at best. To make matters worse, the Prez sends his goon to bring Jennie back to his den of iniquity. The gallant Brady gets the drop on him!

Helicopter Shots!

Espee #8 circles beneath the whirlybird as the camera captures its progress.

Well. President Stobridge stands arms akimbo in the coach giving us an excellent view of the car’s furnishings. He also wants to play kissy-face with Mrs. Jennie.

Comes the dawn, SP #8 rolls into Santa Rita past a D&RGW box car. As Brady and Bill de-train, we get a great view of the Southern Pacific-labeled coach. Gasp! That’s Brady’s son – Jeremiah! (played by Ronnie Scribner)

INTERLUDE – fetching females not seen with trains

Appearing as the saucy water-stop prostitute “Dallas” Zowie! is Marianne Gordon. In real life, Ms. Gordon was married to Kenny Rogers for a spell.

It’s Jeremiah’s Mom, Eliza! Rowf! Looking quite smashing in her décolletage, she was played by actress Christine Belford.

END INTERLUDE

As the train pulls out of Santa Rita, Jeremiah is in pursuit and clambers aboard. Shortly thereafter, he is presented to Brady by the conductor.

That is a mighty tight curve and rough track the train is negotiating.

A brace of helicopter shots showing the rugged terrain.

Beautiful bridge shots. But. Where’d they find such a rushing stream in Southern Arizona? Did the dam break?

The high-stakes poker game in the private car; Meanwhile at “Benton” two henchman board looking for Jeremiah.

Artsy-Fartsy dawn backlit shot of the tender and train; Yuma, at last! Hey, that D&RGW boxcar made it there AHEAD of the passenger. You don’t suppose Yuma (and Santa Rita and El Paso) are Old Tucson in disguise? ;p

Pulling in, a telephoto shot emphasizes the swayback of the first coach; Brady heads for the final showdown – both cars are sagging noticeably.

Schoolmarm Jennie and Jeremiah wait it out on the platform (well-lit view of the two passenger cars); As SP #8 simmers in the background, the credits roll.

Epilogue:

Both the Reno and D&R #8 are still with us and reside at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

Here’s the promised Music Video:

That is if it’s still on YouTube.

Here’s what IMDb has to say about The Gambler:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080993/

If you have ANY information about this movie you’d like to share, please contact me at: Lindsay.Korst@gmail.com, or leave a comment.  Thanks and enjoy the blog!

THE END