Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature Sydney released as “Hard Eight”. When the movie is over you’ll feel like you’ve been in a smokey casino all day.
The Grifters, House of Games.
Wong Jing’s God of Gamblers
Dr Mabuse: The Gambler (1922)
Fritz Lang pretty much single handedly created the modern gangster movie and film noir with this superb exploration of German high society between the wars, focusing on the psychic gambling skills of Dr Mabuse, played in typical melodramatic fashion by Rudolph Klein-Rogge. From manipuating the stock market to fleecing the aristocracy Mabuse has no other aim but the accumulation of wealth by the foulest means necessary.
Does Stranger than Paradise qualifies?… I think so…
Second Sydney. as prob. the best. I also like The Good Thief. And the vegas segment of My Blueberry Nights.
But in general this genre needs a pretty hefty makeover.
“Dr Mabuse: The Gambler (1922)”
always wanted to see this!!
God Of Gamblers is definitely worth a look. i was going to mention it but i thought we were keeping it ‘serious’ here? ;-)
I second Hard Eight, VERY underrated film.
Also, Kitano’s Zatoichi featured some rather prominent gambling. Bob le Flambeur is another good one and I rather like House of Games.
I third Hard Eight
Robert Altman- California Split
Barbet Schroeder- Tricheurs
Karel Reisz- The Gambler
I find gambling is rarely convincing in film, since there’s almost always cheating involved. Either the gambling is about a gambler who cheats, or is about a gambler who can tell that others are cheating, or if it is about “real” (no cheating) gambling, then the director/screenwriter can rarely resist the temptation to play God, or Lady Luck, and manipulate the game for the sake of the story, which is a form of cheating.
It would be interesting someone tried to base a film, or even a scene of one, on real gambling — that is, have the character actually gamble, and shoot the scene based on however the dice (cards, roulette ball, etc.) turned out.
(Note: I realize that poker and to some extent blackjack are not totally gambling, but I’m talking about pure chance gambling here.)
Bay Of Angels (Jacques Demy).
A GAMBLER’S STORY by Marco Mak!!
The Cincinnati Kid
Surprised no one has yet mentioned The Sting. Also liked The Grifters (different type of gambling).
John Cassavetes’ “Husbands” has a great gambling scene, in that it shows you how gambling is fun but also kinda pathetic.
Bob le Flambeur and The Good Thief (remake)
Destry Rides Again
The Lady Gambles – a bit of an outdated melodrama, but kind of watchable
Color of Money & The Hustler
God of Gamblers
The Gambler
The Cooler
Owning Mahowny
King Gambler
Most 1980s Wong Jing films are about gambling
I second Croupier, Casino, and Hard Eight.
Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon is structured around card games and duels.
Gambling ain’t just strictly about poker chips and cards…
COCKFIGHTER – directed by Monte Hellman starring Warren Oates
SCANDAL – Takashi Shimura played a bumbling lawyer hooked on gambling
711 OCEAN DRIVE – Edmond O’Brien as a telephone man using his skill to manipulate a betting operation
SEABISCUIT, RACING STRIPES – or other films about cute horses, billed as family entertainment (and always get away with it)
Cockfighter is great.
Two Lane Blacktop . Warren Oates and Monty Hellman again.
Rainman
The Deer Hunter
Atlantic City
The Lady Eve
And I second all of the aforementioned:
Bob le flambeu
Cincinnati Kid
Croupier
Dr. Mabuse The Gambler
The Gambler
The Grifters
Hard Eight
House of Games
The Hustler
The Sting
Owning Mahowny
Speaking of Cassavetes, I guess The Killing of a Chinese Bookie could be seen as a “gambling film,” as Cosmo Vittelli was forced to cover his debts.
Did anyone mention, Intacto? I liked that one.
James
Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature Sydney released as “Hard Eight”. When the movie is over you’ll feel like you’ve been in a smokey casino all day.