You ever watch a movie where you can practically smell the dust and the cheap scotch? That’s Draw!. It’s this weirdly perfect, often overlooked 1984 TV movie that feels more like a cinematic standoff than a small-screen production. It’s a Western. It’s a comedy. It’s a drama about two aging legends realizing the world doesn't want them anymore.
Honestly, the cast of Draw 1984 is the only reason the movie works as well as it does.
Without the specific chemistry between Kirk Douglas and James Coburn, this would have been just another dusty relic lost in the HBO archives. Instead, we got a meta-commentary on fame and the "Old West" mythos. Kirk Douglas plays Harry H. Holland. He’s a former outlaw. James Coburn is Sam Starret, the lawman who once captured him.
They’re old. They’re tired. But they have one last show to put on.
Kirk Douglas as the Stubborn Harry Holland
Kirk Douglas was already a titan by the time he stepped onto the set in Alberta, Canada.
He didn't just play Harry Holland; he inhabited the guy's desperation. Think about it. Douglas was 67 or 68 when this filmed. He’s doing his own stunts, or at least enough of them to make you believe he could still draw a Peacemaker. Harry is a man out of time. He’s an outlaw in a world that’s starting to prefer lawyers and paved roads.
Douglas brings that trademark intensity. That chin. That grit. But there’s a softness here too.
He’s playing a man who knows his legend is bigger than his actual life. It’s a performance that mirrors Douglas’s own career—a Hollywood lion showing he still has teeth. People often compare this role to his work in Lonely Are the Brave, and they aren't wrong. There’s a direct line between the two characters.
James Coburn: The Perfect Foil
If Douglas is the fire, James Coburn is the cool evening breeze that’s actually a localized hurricane.
As Sam Starret, Coburn plays the "retired" lawman with a drinking problem and a lot of baggage. Coburn was always the king of cool. Even in his fifties, he had that lanky, effortless gait and a grin that suggested he knew a joke you hadn't heard yet.
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Starret is brought out of retirement specifically because he’s the only one who can handle Holland. Or so the story goes. In reality, the town of Bell’s Gap just wants a spectacle. Coburn plays the cynicism beautifully. He isn't a hero; he's a guy looking for a paycheck and maybe a bit of his old self-respect.
The interplay between these two is the heart of the cast of Draw 1984. They aren't really enemies. They’re coworkers in a dying industry.
Alexandra Bastedo and the Supporting Players
It wasn't just a two-man show, though it often feels like it.
Alexandra Bastedo plays Bess, the woman caught in the middle. Bastedo was a British actress best known for The Champions, and she brings a certain groundedness to a movie that could have easily become too hammy. She’s the emotional anchor.
Then you’ve got Graham Jarvis as Wally Blodgett.
Jarvis was one of those "hey, it's that guy" actors. He’s perfect as the nervous, slightly bureaucratic presence in town. He represents the "New West"—the one that wants to turn a gunfight into a tourist attraction.
The film also features:
- Derek McGrath as Reggie Bell
- Jason Michas as Moses
- Len Birman as Ephraim
Each of these actors helps flesh out Bell's Gap. It’s a town that feels lived in. It’s dirty. It’s cynical. The supporting cast does a lot of the heavy lifting to make the central rivalry between Douglas and Coburn feel like it has actual stakes for the people living there.
Why the Chemistry Matters
Look.
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Westerns in the mid-80s were in a weird spot. Silverado hadn't quite happened yet to revitalize the genre. Most Westerns were either cheap TV movies or weird experiments. Draw! succeeded because it leaned into the meta-narrative.
The cast of Draw 1984 knew they were playing symbols.
When Holland and Starret finally square off, it’s not about who’s faster. It’s about the fact that the town is literally selling tickets to the event. The actors play into this beautifully. There’s a scene where they’re basically negotiating how the fight should go. It’s hilarious, but it’s also heartbreaking.
They are performers.
Douglas and Coburn were real-life friends, and you can see it in their timing. They trust each other. You can’t fake that kind of rapport. If you had cast two actors who didn't respect each other, the movie would have been a slog. Instead, it’s a brisk 98 minutes of character-driven storytelling.
The Canadian Connection
A lot of people don't realize Draw! was a co-production.
It was filmed in Drumheller, Alberta. If you’ve ever been there, you know it looks like the surface of the moon mixed with the Badlands. It’s evocative. The Canadian crew and the local actors added a texture that felt different from the typical North Hills, California, Western sets.
The director, Steven Hilliard Stern, was a Canadian veteran who knew how to make a budget look like a million bucks. He let the cast of Draw 1984 breathe. He didn't over-edit. He knew that if he just pointed the camera at Kirk Douglas and James Coburn, something interesting would happen.
He was right.
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Rare Trivia and Behind-the-Scenes Facts
Most people don't know that this was one of the early "Made for Cable" successes. HBO was still figuring out its identity in 1984. They needed big names to prove they could compete with the major studios. Getting Douglas and Coburn was a massive coup.
- Kirk Douglas was reportedly incredibly disciplined on set, showing up early and staying late.
- James Coburn used his own personal interest in Eastern philosophy to keep the set vibe relaxed during hot Alberta summer days.
- The movie was actually nominated for several Gemini Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Emmys), including Best TV Movie and Best Supporting Actor for Graham Jarvis.
The Legacy of the 1984 Cast
Does Draw! hold up?
Yeah, it actually does.
In a world of CGI and hyper-edited action, there’s something refreshing about watching two old pros trade insults and gunfire. It’s a character study disguised as a Western. The cast of Draw 1984 represents a transition point in Hollywood history. It’s the end of the "Golden Age" stars moving into the "Prestige TV" era.
If you haven't seen it, find a copy. It’s a reminder that talent doesn't have an expiration date. Harry Holland and Sam Starret might have been washed up, but Douglas and Coburn were just getting started on their third acts.
How to Revisit the Film Today
If you’re looking to dive back into this 80s gem, keep a few things in mind. The film is often bundled in "Western 4-Pack" DVDs or found on retro streaming services. It hasn't received a massive 4K restoration yet, which honestly adds to the grit.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Lonely Are the Brave (1962) to see a younger Kirk Douglas playing a similar "outlaw out of time" archetype.
- Look for the 1994 film The Hard Way or even Unforgiven to see how the "aging gunslinger" trope evolved after Draw!.
- Track down the original HBO promos from 1984 on YouTube to see how they marketed "The Movie Event of the Summer."
The movie is a time capsule. It captures a moment when the Western was being dismantled and put back together by the very people who made it famous in the first place. You've got to respect the hustle.