The film begins with Charles Bickford ,as undertaker Benson Tropp, driving his horses pulling his hearse at breakneck speed along rural roads, until he comes to a town, where he picks up lawyer Otto Habershaw(Kenin McCarthy), then continues until he meets Henry Drummond, who accompanies them on his horse. until they reach Black Creek, where they greet cattle baron Dennis Wilcox(Robert Middleton) and merchant Jesse Buford(John Qualen). These 5 claim to be the wealthiest men in the territory, and they have assembled to play their annual high stakes poker game. Pretty soon, Meredith(Henry Fonda) and his wife Mary(Joanne Woodward), and small son Jackie, arrive in town in their covered wagon. They are ex-professional gamblers, on their way to stake out a homestead near San Antonio. They need a blacksmith to fix a wheel. Meanwhile, Meredith wanders around town, and discovers the poker game. He asks if he can be an observer. At first, he is given a definite no, but eventually Habershaw persuades the others to reluctantly let him in the room, where he observes for a while. Eventually, he requests to take part in the game. Again, initially, the response is "no", but, again, Habershaw, eventually convinces the others to let him play: a decision that he will eventually regret. He takes the place of Buford. However, he is told he needs to put up $1000. to play. He hurries to his room to rob the nest egg, knowing Mary will be shocked. He is not doing very well, with much perspiration on his face. Then, he is told he must anti-up $3500.more to stay in the game, or risk losing his $1000. by default. He rushes to his nest egg and pulls out the last $3000.,still needing $500. more. At this point, he collapses of an apparent heart attack, and is ordered ,by Dr. Scully, to be taken out of the room. Before he leaves, he asks Mary, who has arrived, to play his hand for him. Most object to this flagrant violation of tradition.. But, Habershaw again convinces the most vociferous of them to bend their rules, and allow a woman to play. She pretends she knows nothing about the rules of poker. Eventually, Habershaw, who's taken a shine to her, volunteers to tell her some of the basics of the game. But, she still needs that $500. to play. So, she sets off to talk to banker C.P. Ballinger. The others follow her, with their hands, to make sure she doesn't cheat. She shows Ballinger her hand and proposes that it be collateral for her loan. Ballinger storms at this suggestion and orders them out. But, strangely, he soon visits the gambling den, and announces that Mary's hand is the most convincing collateral he's ever seen! So, he loans her the $500. and considerably more, to raise the stakes. See the movie to find out what happens(if you can't guess). Meanwhile, Meredith's pretense of serious injury is dispensed with, and he appears spendidly healthy, as usual. Ballinger and Dr. Scully had joined with Meredith and Mary to defeat the big shots. We never did see her hand. Was it really as Ballanger described, or was it a bluff? ...........After the poker game is over, Drummond returns to his home, where everybody has been waiting for his return so that the wedding of his daughter can proceed. However, he takes the groom aside, and asks why he wants to marry his plain-looking daughter? He replies that he loves her, but Drummond scoffs at this, and suggests he really wants a share of Drummond's estate. Drummond then makes him exit a window, with the promise that he will not be seen again. I find this a strange afterthought of the main point of the film.
Review of A Big Hand for the Little Lady
About a high stakes poker game and the unexpected winner, with some unexpected help.
4 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers