Watch A Big Hand for a Little Lady

A Big Hand for a Little Lady is a Western film released in 1966, starring legendary actors Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, and Jason Robards. The movie is directed by Fielder Cook and written by Sidney Carroll. The story is set in the late 19th century in a small town called Laredo, Texas. There is a big annual poker game held in the town that attracts professional gamblers from far and wide. This time, a wealthy family from the East Coast of the United States, the Dillons, are traveling through Texas in their carriage and stop in Laredo where they get caught up in the excitement of the poker game.

Meredith and Mary, played by Fonda and Woodward respectively, are a couple that run a small farm outside the town. Meredith is a former gambler who quit the game after a huge loss many years ago. Mary is his supportive wife who has never really understood her husband's fascination with the game of poker.

As fate would have it, Meredith ends up entering the poker game despite his promise to Mary that he would never play again. He gets in over his head, and Mary undertakes the challenge of learning the game in one night to help him. As the stakes get higher, Mary begins to surprise and impress the other players with her newfound skills.

The tension of the game is heightened by the fact that one of the players, a notorious gambler named Otto Ludenbach, played brilliantly by Robards, is suspected of cheating. As the night progresses, the players become more and more suspicious of each other, leading to an intense gameplay where the last man standing wins all.

The movie is a fun-filled adventure with a brilliant twist ending that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. It's a classic Western with great performances by the lead actors and a masterfully crafted script.

The film has many themes that are relevant even today. It's a story of ambition and greed, of a man who had given up his passion being drawn back in only to jeopardize his family's financial security. It's also a story of a woman who overcomes her fears and takes control of her own fate, proving to herself and others that she is capable of anything.

The movie's dialogue is witty and engaging, and the characters are well-defined and complex. The performances by Fonda, Woodward, and Robards are remarkable, showcasing their range as actors.

The film's production design is also noteworthy, with the authentic period sets and costumes adding to the movie's overall charm. The score by David Raksin complements the action on screen, building tension and excitement as the game reaches its climax.

Overall, A Big Hand for a Little Lady is a classic Western with great performances, dialogue, and production design. It's a movie that holds up well even today and is a must-see for fans of the genre.

A Big Hand for a Little Lady is a 1966 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.