Kirk Douglas, James Coburn & Alexandra Bastedo in "Draw!" (1984)
667In the final days of the Old West, with appearance of the first automobiles, a former desperado, Handsome Harry Holland (Kirk Douglas), is released from prison an old man.
Barely recognizable, he heads to Bell City where he only interests children amazed at his gun handling skills. Holland goes for a drink at the saloon where four men are playing cards. One of them , Reggie Bell (Derek McGrath), is the no good son of the town boss. Reggie is cheating at poker as usual but no one dares speak. Holland joins the game and wins all of Reggie's money. Reggie gives an IOU to Holland.
Holland only wants to leave Bell City with the money he won fairly at a poker game. He tries to cash the IOU at the bank but the corrupt Sheriff Harmon (Richard Donat) orders this old-time outlaw out of town, at Reggie's orders. Undeterred, Holland forces the bank teller to honor Reggie's IOU but the Sheriff prevents him from leaving town with the money. The Sheriff draws on Holland. In the subsequent shoot-out, this has-been outlaw warms up his pistol again and kills the Sheriff in self-defense. Holland is wounded by a Deputy, Wally Blodgett (Graham Jarvis), and Bell, the gambler who lost most of the money, is also wounded.
Holland runs in the local hotel, takes refuge with a 'hostage', Bess (Alexandra Bastedo), a traveling theatre actress, and finds himself trapped in this small Western town.
A stand-off ensues, with Holland stuck in the hotel and the deputies unable to get him. Holland refuses to surrender to a fair trial. In his room, Holland has his hostage tend to his wounds and read Shakespeare to him.
Frustrated, the town Mayor and his council decide the only thing to do is hire his old nemesis, former lawman Sam Starret (James Coburn), who's fast on the draw and can kill Holland. Unfortunately, Sam Starret is past his prime, is a hopeless drunk and lives in Mexico.
One deputy goes to Mexico to hire Starret. Holland only has a few days to escape the hotel and leave town before this ex-sheriff-turned-boozer arrives to 'face down' Holland.
A 1984 American Western comedy Television film directed by Steven Hilliard Stern, produced by Ronald I. Cohen, Executive Produced by Harold Greenberg and Stuart B. Rekant, written by Stanley Mann, cinematography by Laszlo George, starring Kirk Douglas, James Coburn, Alexandra Bastedo, Graham Jarvis, Derek McGrath, Jason Michas, Len Birman, Maurice Brand, Graham McPherson, Linda Sorenson, Gerard Parkes, Richard Donat, Frank Adamson, Stuart Gillard, Larry Musser, Frank C. Turner, and Brian George. Final screen appearance of Joan Hurley.
Kirk Douglas' last western film.
James Coburn took over from an ailing Burt Lancaster.
Alexandra Bastedo (1946- 2014), born Alexandra Lendon Bastedo in Hove, England, was a British actress. She made her film debut in William Castle's poorly received "13 Frightened Girls" (1963). She gained attention on the European continent, earning her the nickname, "La Bastedo". One of her first appearances in popular culture was in the 1966 film Doctor in Clover where she appears as a young nurse dancing with Sir Lancelot at a party (a non-speaking role). Best known for her role as the beautiful secret agent Sharron Macready in the 1968 British TV espionage/science fiction adventure series The Champions. She was also known for her language skills, speaking Italian, Spanish, French and German. This ability brought her to the attention of 10 Downing Street, where she was employed to assist with translations, and landed her the role of co-presenter of Miss World competitions with Peter Marshall in the 1980s. Bastedo dated David Frost and Omar Sharif, but turned down the advances of Steve McQueen. Bastedo was a vegetarian and animal welfare advocate. Founder of Alexandra Bastedo Champions (ABC) Animal Sanctuary. She wrote a number of books on both subjects.
Stanley Mann (1928- 2016), Born in Toronto, Ontario, was a Canadian screenwriter. He began his writing career in 1951 at CBC Radio, and was nominated for an Oscar for "The Collector" (1965), based on the John Fowles novel. He worked in different genres. Best known for "A High Wind in Jamaica" (1965), "Eye of the Needle" (1981) "Firestarter" (1984), and "Conan the Destroyer" (1984).
Nominated for Genie Awards for Best Achievement in Art Direction, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Overall Sound, Best Achievement in Sound Editing.
Linda Sorenson won a Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
This light-hearted hoss opera was the fifth in HBO's made-for-cable series of original movies with top-drawer stars.
Old-fashioned and traditionally made for TV Western, simple and light, with a modest plot, resulting in the inevitable final showdown with two top-notch actors, Kirk Douglas and James Coburn. Funny, romantic, suspenseful, enjoyable, low-budget B-Western with star power, emotion, thrills and some smart moments make this an unexpected treat worthwhile watching.