A Big Hand for the Little Lady 1966
Directed by
John Rice
Made by
Eden Productions Inc.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
In the Old West, the five richest men in the territory gather in Laredo for their annual high-stakes poker game, where pride and risk ride high with every raise. When undertaker Benson Tropp, Charles Bickford, calls them to order in his horse-drawn hearse, the tension grows as cattleman Henry Drummond, Jason Robards pressures a postponement of his daughter’s wedding, while lawyer Otto Habershaw, Kevin McCarthy abandons his closing arguments in a life-or-death trial. They are joined by Dennis Wilcox, Robert Middleton, and Jesse Buford, John Qualen, in the back room of Sam’s saloon, as curious townsfolk linger outside, waiting for any word from the table.
Settler Meredith, Henry Fonda his wife Mary, Joanne Woodward, and their young son Jackie, Jean-Michel Michenaud are passing through on their way to buy a farm near San Antonio when a wagon wheel breaks. They wait at Sam’s while the local blacksmith tends to the repairs. Meredith, a recovering gambler, learns of the big game and asks Habershaw if he can watch. Struck by Mary’s look, Habershaw invites Meredith to the table, and Meredith eventually bets all of his family savings, the money meant to buy a home, on the outcome of the hand.
The game builds to a climactic hand; the pot swells to more than $20,000 as the players push and pull, risking everything. Meredith, short on cash, can’t call the latest raise. Under the strain, he collapses. The town physician, Doc Scully, is called to care for the stricken man. Barely conscious, Meredith signals for his wife to stay in the room and play out the hand. Taking his seat, Mary asks, > “How do you play this game?” < The others howl in protest, but they eventually concede and let her proceed.
The situation is explained to her: if she cannot match the last raise (and any subsequent ones), she will be out of the hand. Despite the men’s protests, she leaves the room to borrow additional funds. With Jackie and four of the players trailing behind, Mary crosses the street to speak with the owner of the Cattle and Merchants’ Bank, C. P. Ballinger. After she shows him her hand, Ballinger suggests she is playing a practical joke. When he is told otherwise, he lends her $5,500 (at 6% interest) and makes a $5,000 raise for her. The other players, aware of Ballinger’s cautious nature, fold one by one. Mary collects a sizable winnings and repays Ballinger with interest. The game ends without anyone seeing the winning hand.
The woman’s resolve earns her the admiration of the men. Drummond is so moved that, upon returning to the wedding ceremony, he speaks privately to his prospective son-in-law, slips him some money, and urges him to run away and find a better wife.
In the end, Meredith, Mary, and their “son” are revealed to be confident tricksters and expert card sharps. With the help of Scully—who dreams of romance far from the tedium and poverty of a country doctor’s life—and at Ballinger’s behest, they have schemed against the other poker players, who themselves had swindled the banker in a real-estate deal 16 years before. “Mary” is actually Ballinger’s mistress, Ruby. She promises to give up gambling after the caper, but she sits down to another poker game, much to Ballinger’s dismay.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Gilded poker night in Laredo
In the back room of Sam's Saloon, the territory's five richest men assemble for their annual high-stakes poker game. The crowd outside gathers for occasional reports as the players set the tone with cool patience and practiced bluffs. An unusual interruption comes when Undertaker Tropp arrives in a horse-drawn hearse to summon them, threatening to disrupt their proceedings.
Settler Meredith joins the game
Settler Meredith, his wife Mary, and their young son Jackie stop by Sam's while the wagon wheel is being repaired. Meredith asks Habershaw if he can watch the game, and the lawyer is struck by Mary's looks, inviting him to join. Meredith agrees and ultimately buys into the high-stakes hand.
Meredith stakes the family savings
Meredith puts everything on the line, staking all the family savings intended for a new home to participate in the game. He sacrifices the last prospects of a settled life for a shot at the big win. The tension in the room rises as the pot grows.
Meredith collapses; Doctor called
The pot balloons to more than $20,000 as players push and re-raise. Out of cash and overwhelmed, Meredith collapses from strain, and the town physician, Doc Scully, is summoned to tend him. Barely conscious, Meredith signals for his wife Mary to finish the hand.
Mary decides to play the hand
Mary asks, 'How do you play this game?' and, despite protests, is allowed to take over. She exits briefly to raise funds and is followed by Jackie and several players. The moment highlights her resolve and the men’s reluctant respect.
Mary borrows funds from Ballinger
Mary crosses the street to the Cattle and Merchants' Bank, presenting her hand as justification for credit. Bank owner C. P. Ballinger lends her $5,500 at 6% interest and injects a $5,000 raise to push the pot higher. The loan subtly shifts the balance of power at the table.
Raising the stakes; rivals fold
Ballinger's loan enables a final, decisive raise that forces the other players to fold. Mary pockets a sizable winnings and repays Ballinger with interest, illustrating how the scam leverages the banker’s caution against the gamblers’ bravado. The room hums with whispered awe at the audacity of the turn.
The game ends; no one sees the winning hand
The hand ends without anyone ever seeing the actual winning card, and the game breaks up amid quiet admiration for Mary's nerve. Drummond, moved by the moment, returns home to his waiting wedding and quietly respects the gambit's outcome. The town begins to marvel at the outsiders' deftness.
Drummond counsels the would-be son-in-law
Back at the wedding's edges, Drummond privately counsels his prospective son-in-law to run away and seek a better wife, even as he supplements him with money to start anew. The gesture reveals a softer, conflicted streak behind the hard-edged frontier life. The couple’s plan to wed is left in a precarious, unsettled state.
Con artists revealed
In a final twist, Meredith, Mary, and their fake 'son' are revealed as confidence tricksters and expert card sharps. With Scully's allyship and Ballinger's complicity, they admit to swindling the poker players who had victimized the banker years earlier. The scheme is laid bare and the lovers’ ruse stands exposed.
Mary's true identity and new game
Mary is revealed to be Ballinger's mistress Ruby; she promised to quit gambling but sits down to another poker game anyway, much to Ballinger's dismay. The couple's romance remains as dangerous as their tricks, setting the stage for one last gamble.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady Characters
Explore all characters from A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Meredith (Henry Fonda)
A settling, recovering gambler who stakes his entire family savings on the big game. He wrestles with risk and responsibility, ultimately becoming a focal point of the con. His pragmatism and occasional indecision create tension as the others push the limits of fortune.
Mary (Joanne Woodward)
Meredith's wife, a determined and capable participant in the game who negotiates, observes, and ultimately burns bright at the table. She demonstrates surprising agency in a male-dominated setting and orchestrates key moves in the scheme. Her true role is later revealed in a twist that ties her to Ballinger personally.
Doc Scully (Burgess Meredith)
Town physician called to care for the stricken Meredith; he carries a romantic curiosity beyond his country practice. He becomes a quiet ally in the events, dreaming of romance while also guiding the wounded plot forward. His presence adds a touch of tenderness to the high-stakes tension.
C. P. Ballinger (Paul Ford)
The cautious and calculating banker who lends Mary money to cover the final raise. He is a target of the con, his tightfisted prudence making him both a monetary prize and a potential liability to the players. His role anchors the financial stakes of the game.
Henry Drummond (Jason Robards)
The cattleman whose wealth and influence loom over the proceedings. He is moved by the scene of the game and ultimately lends a hand to support Meredith’s path to a better life. His presence embodies the big-spender tension of the frontier economy.
Otto Habershaw (Kevin McCarthy)
A lawyer who momentarily abandons his closing argument for the spectacle of the game, drawn by the prospect of influence and romance. He becomes caught in the con and illustrates how even sharp minds can be drawn into a larger deception.
Jackie (Jean-Michel Michenaud)
Meredith and Mary’s young son, present as the family companion on their journey. He serves as a reminder of the stakes involved for ordinary people trying to build a future in the frontier.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady Settings
Learn where and when A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Late 19th century
The story unfolds in a classic Old West milieu—frontier towns, saloons, and banks mark daily life as fortunes hinge on high-stakes gambling. The period is defined by rough justice, rapid deals, and social dynamics driven by money and power. Saloons and back rooms set the rhythm for a plot built on risk, bluffing, and cunning.
Location
Laredo, Sam's Saloon, San Antonio
Set in a rugged frontier town in the Old West, Laredo serves as the backdrop for a high-stakes poker game held in Sam's saloon. The town functions as a hub where fortunes rise and fall on a single hand, with a bank and back-room deals shaping the drama. The atmosphere mirrors rough, opportunistic frontier life where money and wit determine status.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady Themes
Discover the main themes in A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Gambling
A high-stakes poker game drives the plot, with fortunes and reputations on the line. Bluffing, raises, and calls create suspense as the pot grows beyond measure. Meredith and Mary demonstrate that skill and nerve can overturn appearances at the table. The game is as much about social maneuvering as it is about cards.
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Gender & Power
Mary asserts agency in a male-dominated frontier society, using wit and poise to influence the pot and strategy. Her calculated moves and negotiations with Ballinger reveal a surprising level of independence. The twist that she is Ballinger's mistress adds complexity to the power dynamics and the risks of such cunning.
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Deception
Characters wear masks—both literal and figurative—as a carefully orchestrated con unfolds. Romance, misdirection, and staged moments drive the narrative, culminating in a twist that redefines who truly orchestrates the deception. Trust and timing become weapons in a game where appearances are weaponized.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the dust‑caked streets of Laredo, the Old West unfolds around a weekly ritual that has become legend: the territory’s five richest men gather in the back room of Sam’s saloon for a high‑stakes poker game where pride and fortunes rise with every card. The town hums with a tense anticipation, the clatter of horse‑hooves and the low murmur of onlookers blending with the steady scrape of a hearse as Benson Tropp calls the men to order. Behind the polished veneer of the gamblers—cattle baron Henry Drummond, sharp‑tongued lawyer Otto Habershaw, and their equally formidable companions—a gritty, almost palpable sense of danger hangs in the air, promising both ruin and reward.
Into this volatile mix rides Meredith, an inexperienced traveler whose life has been a series of modest, hopeful moves. He, Mary, his steadfast wife, and their young son Jackie are on a pilgrimage to purchase a farm near San Antonio, their savings tucked away as the promise of a new beginning. A broken wagon wheel forces them to linger at Sam’s while the town blacksmith repairs their transport, giving Meredith a front‑row seat to the gambling legend that unfolds within the saloon’s smoky walls. Their modest dream is juxtaposed against the glittering fortunes being wagered around them, setting a stark contrast between quiet ambition and reckless extravagance.
The allure of the game proves hard to resist. Meredith learns of the stakes and feels an uneasy pull between his desire to protect his family’s future and the intoxicating draw of a chance that could change everything. The wealthy players, each a symbol of the frontier’s relentless climb toward power, embody an almost mythic challenge to the humble travelers. As the evening deepens, the atmosphere tightens—cards are shuffled, chips clatter, and every raise seems to echo the fragile line between hope and desperation.
Within this world of cracked leather seats and relentless sun, the story hovers on the brink of a decision that could tip the balance of the family’s destiny. The tone is at once tense and wistful, capturing the raw grit of a frontier town and the quiet determination of a family daring to stake their future against the odds.
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