10 gambling/hustling movies

[marbles]

***Note: NOT A TOP 10 LIST***

11 good movies with gambling/hustling as major theme:

The Hustler
The Sting
Rounders
Cincinnati Kid
The Color of Money
Let it Ride
The Longshot
The Flamingo Kid
Eight Men Out
Harlem Nights
Vegas Vacation - I know, a weak movie, but the gambling scenes are comedy, particularly when Eddie takes Clark to his favorite casino.

These are the only 10 that came to mind in the past few minutes. I guarantee I'm leaving a few great ones out. Little help here?

[Clarkmeister]

I'm a horse racing fan and I can't begin to tell a non-fan just how accurate the side characters in that movie are. I quote it on just about a daily basis. My favorite line: "Even when you know, you never know". My friend is particularly fond of "Where'd My God come from?!?"

The "dealer has rock, pay paper" scene in Vegas Vacation had me in tears the first time I saw it.

[eMarkM]

The Gambler w/ James Caan, giving gambling a good name.
Casino, of course.

[marbles]

Clark,

You didn't post the movie title, but I assume you're talking about Let it Ride. I personally grew up walking distance from Arlington Park and can vouch for your point. That movie completely nailed the image of life at the track. "Cheeseburger" is a particularly true-to-life character.

Hey Marbles not a bad list but how about "Hard Eight" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel Jackson, and the old Maverick movies with James Garner and even the remake with Mel Gibson.Last but not least Kenny Rogers as the gambler. RINCON

[marbles]

Hmm... Never heard of Hard Eight... May have to check it out.

And of course, The Gambler and Maverick were unintentionally omitted. My bad.

[Clarkmeister]

Yes, sorry, I was talking about Let it Ride. One of the few movies that I actually own.

I worked at Sportsmans Park and Balmoral Park for about 3-4 years. Day to day life at the track is an interesting experience to say the least. Everyone knows a "Loony" who could never cash a ticket. All the guys in the bar trying to talk each other in to their picks. One of the best scenes in the movie is where Dreyfus works the bar into a frenzy with his "I am truly Hot" speech, then when he tries to get everyone to bet their money together everyone is like: weeeeell, maybe not.

"Remembered the time you ratholed the 5 up your ass?"

"This is a horse race, this isn't the Olympics"

"They put widdow kids on the fow horse to get their picto's tak-en"

"Let me get this straight - 'whatever you do, don't bet this horse'?"

Not exactly a gambling movie, but brought real-life gambling scenarios to life: Caddyshack
1) Hey Judge, $1000 bucks you miss that putt
2) May I remind you sir that there is no gambling allowed at Bushwood
3) $20 the Smale's kid picks his nose, alright another 20 he eats it.

[marbles]

Incidentally, what do you think happens to Jay after the movie ends? Is the viewer just supposed to assume that he loses it all within a week?

I say this because the last line of the movie is, "I'm having a very good day," which is known gamblerspeak for "let it ride again, baby!"

Not a bad idea for a sequel, by the way.

[Clarkmeister]

Well, it was the last race of the day, and the movie was made before the widespread use of simulcasting, so he is forced to go home with the money. I would assume that he straightens his life out while still leaving a a sizeable stake (say 40k) to gamble with on the side.

"He pissed it all away" (the crowd roars its approval)

one more check out California Split with Robert Altman made in the 70's and by the way Hard Eight came out about 1996 and is on DVD it was directed by the guy who made Memento (I think).. RINCON

[Glenn]

This one might be a sleeper or it might be a piece of crap. The movie is called "Zigs" but was retitled "Double Down" when it was released straight to video. It stars Jason Priestly as a degenerage gambler who tries to fix an MLB game with his friends. It is not an oscar winner, but my friend and I both laughed throughout. This movie will likely only appeal to the Jewish and gamblers. If you are a Jewish gambler you will probably really like it. Check it out, but don't expect too much since it is a straight to video movie staring Jason Priestly.

[marbles]

I have definitely heard of California Split, but admit I need to see that one yet. Both are now on my list. Thanks.

Memento was really, really cool.

[ripdog]

House of Games is another. I thought it sucked, but I'd guess that I'm in the minority. The premise works well, but the acting was terrible, IMO. The acting in Hard Eight was almost as bad.

[bernie]

The Big Time..with matt dillon

cool flick...

b

[M.B.E.]

I liked that British movie "Croupier" with Clive Owen and Alex Kingston (Dr. Corday on ER). However, even though I saw it twice I don't understand the details of the scam.

[Glenn]

About my post on "Double Down"...let me clarify the Jewish thing. The characters are Jewish, and there is a fair amount of Jewish humor in the movie. After reading that I realized it probably sounded odd.

[andyfox]

The Gambler was a great, great movie. The look on Caan's face in the last shot was stunning. Came out around the same time as California Split (with E. Gould and G. Segal).
Interesting that both GOuld and Segal, who should have been big, big stars, messed up their careers with drug problems.

Anyway, in California Split, Gould is sizing up a poker game for Segal and utters the immortal line about so-and-so being a doctor but "he'd rather lose a patient than a big pot."

[andyfox]

In another thread, I think on another forum, someone mentioned David Hayano's book Poker Faces. He mentions quite a few movies with gambling themes. For John Cole:

Belle Le Grand (1950)
The Gambler and the Lady (1952)
Never Trust a Gambler (1951)
The Gambler from Natchez (1954)
Mister Cory (1957)
Lady Luck (1946)
Gambling Lady (1934)
The Lady Eve (1941)
The Lady Gambles (1949)

Also, I've heard rumor of a movie with Warren Beatty where he had cards manufactured that allowed him to read them with the help of special glasses (Russ G.?) I think it was called Kaleidoscope. Anyone know this one?