Feature Movie Description... continued.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady - 1966
Settlers Meredith (Henry Fonda), Mary (Joanne Woodward) and their young son stop in Laredo on their way to California, just as the five richest men in the territory gather for a once-a-year, high-stakes poker game, among them larger-than-life Henry P.G. Drummond (Jason Robards), who won't let something so trivial as his daughter's wedding interfere with the game. Recovering gambler Meredith can't resist the temptation and buys in by putting up all the money he and his wife have saved to buy a farm. He suffers a heart attack during a hand. Doc Joseph Scully (Burgess Meredith) prohibits him from playing anymore, so Mary takes over, even though she doesn't know how to play and over the loud objections of the other players. The betting continues and she doesn't have enough money to call. She then takes her cards over to the bank and shows owner C.P. Bellinger (Paul Ford) her hand; he promptly advances her the money. She wins the hand (and a huge amount of money) and leaves, her determination earning her the admiration of the men. Drummond is so touched by this that, when he gets home to the waiting wedding ceremony, he talks to his weak-willed future son-in-law in private, gives him some money and orders him to run away from his worthless daughter. In the final scene, it is revealed that the whole thing was a scam. Meredith, Mary and even their "son" are con artists and expert card sharps. Mary is really the girlfriend of the mastermind of the caper, Bellinger, who wanted revenge for being bilked years ago by the players.