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| ] was originally hired to direct.<ref></ref> Producer Martin Ransohoff fired him shortly after filming began (many sources say four days but director Norman Jewison states two weeks<ref>"The Cincinnati Kid" DVD director commentary</ref>) for "vulgarizing the picture."<ref></ref> Peckinpah's version was to be shot in black-&-white to give the film a 1930s period feel. Jewison scrapped the black-&-white footage, feeling it was a mistake to shoot a film with the red and black of playing cards in greyscale. He did mute the colors throughout both to evoke the period and to help pop the card colors when they appeared.<ref>"The Cincinnati Kid" DVD director commentary</ref> | |||
| The film features a theme song performed by ]. | The film features a theme song performed by ]. | ||
Revision as of 17:23, 31 July 2007
1965 film| The Cincinnati Kid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Norman Jewison |
| Written by | Richard Jessup (novel) Ring Lardner Jr. Terry Southern |
| Produced by | Martin Ransohoff |
| Starring | Steve McQueen Edward G. Robinson Ann-Margret Karl Malden Tuesday Weld Joan Blondell Rip Torn Jack Weston Cab Calloway Harry Wilson |
| Cinematography | Philip H. Lathrop |
| Edited by | Hal Ashby |
| Music by | Lalo Schifrin |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release dates | October 15, 1965 |
| Running time | 102 min. |
| Language | English |
The Cincinnati Kid is a 1965 film directed by Norman Jewison. Based on the novel by Richard Jessup, the film tells the story of "The Kid," a young poker player, as he seeks to challenge an older established player to establish his reputation as the best.
Director Norman Jewison describes The Cincinnati Kid as his "ugly duckling" film. He considers it the film that allowed him to transition from the lighter comedic films he had previously been making and take on more serious films and subjects.
Production
The Cincinnati Kid was filmed on location in New Orleans, Louisiana, a change from the original St. Louis, Missouri setting of the novel. Spencer Tracy was originally cast as Lancey Howard but ill health forced him to decline the role.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Producer Martin Ransohoff fired him shortly after filming began (many sources say four days but director Norman Jewison states two weeks) for "vulgarizing the picture." Peckinpah's version was to be shot in black-&-white to give the film a 1930s period feel. Jewison scrapped the black-&-white footage, feeling it was a mistake to shoot a film with the red and black of playing cards in greyscale. He did mute the colors throughout both to evoke the period and to help pop the card colors when they appeared.
The film features a theme song performed by Ray Charles.
Plot summary
Steve McQueen plays Eric Stoner, nicknamed "The Kid," an up-and-coming poker player. He hears that Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson), a long-time master of the game nicknamed "The Man," is in town, and decides to take him on. The Kid's friend Shooter (Karl Malden), cautions him, reminding the Kid how Shooter had thought he was the best five-card stud player in the world until Howard "gutted" him when they played.
Howard arrives in town and arranges a game with William Jefferson Slade (Rip Torn) and secures Shooter's services as dealer. Howard takes Slade for several thousand dollars over a 30-hour game, angering him and wounding his pride. That night at Slade's home, Slade first tries to bribe Shooter into cheating in the Kid's favor. When Shooter refuses, Slade threatens to call in the markers he holds on Shooter and finally blackmails him by threatening to reveal damaging information about his wife, Melba (Ann-Margret). When Shooter asks him why he wants him to cheat, Slade tells him that he wants to see Lancey Howard gutted the way Howard gutted him. Shooter agonizes over his choice, having spent the last 25 years building a reputation for integrity.
With Stoner's girl Christian (Tuesday Weld) visiting her parents, Melba tries to seduce the Kid. Out of respect for Shooter, he rebuffs her, and goes to spend the day before the big game with Christian.
The big game starts with six players, including Howard, the Kid and Shooter as the dealer. In the first big confrontation between Stoner and Howard, Stoner is short $2,000 and Slade steps in to stake him. Several hours later, Howard busts the first player and the remaining players take a break. Following the break Lady Fingers (Joan Blondell), who's been delighting in needling Howard all evening, takes over as dealer and continues to needle him.
When Shooter returns to the game it's as the dealer only. As the game wears on all the other players drop out and The Man and The Kid play heads up until the Kid calls for a break. Back in his room, Stoner confronts Shooter, who's been using his skills as a mechanic to the Kid's advantage. Shooter tells him that he's being forced into cheating by Slade. The Kid insists he can win on his own and tells him to deal straight or he'll blow the whistle, destroying Shooter's reputation. After the Kid's nap Melba again tries to seduce him and this time he doesn't resist. Christian catches them after the fact and walks out on the Kid.
On another break in the game, Slade calls the Kid in to see him. Slade tells him that Shooter will continue to cheat in his favor. Despite Slade's threats, the Kid tells him he won't allow Shooter to cheat, insisting again that he'll beat Howard without anyone's help. Back at the game, Stoner maneuvers Shooter out of the dealer's chair and Lady Fingers takes over. The Kid goes on a rush and the Man loses several major pots. Howard is visibly losing confidence.
The final hand
Lady Fingers is dealing and the Kid is on the button. She deals Howard the 8♦ and Stoner the 10♣. The Kid bets $500 and The Man calls. Howard gets the Q♦ and Stoner the 10♠. Stoner bets $1,000 and Howard raises $1,000. Stoner calls. Lady Fingers deals Howard the 10♦ and The Kid gets the A♣. The Kid bets $3,000 and The Man calls. The Man's final card is the 9♦; The Kid gets the A♠. The Kid checks. The Man bets $1,000. The Kid raises $3,500 and is all in. Howard reaches into his wallet and raises another $5,000. The Man agrees to take his marker and the Kid calls the bet. The Man turns over the J♦ for a straight flush. Stoner turns over the A♥, showing that he lost with a full house, Aces full of tens.
Following the game, a gutted Kid leaves the hotel and loses a penny pitch to a shoe shine boy he'd beaten at the film's opening. He runs into Christian and they embrace.
Alternate versions
In some cuts, the film ends with Stoner pitching pennies with a shoe shine boy. This ending is rarely seen, as Turner Classic Movies and the DVD feature the ending with Christian. Jewison wanted to end the film with the penny pitch. The subsequent meeting with Christian is a concession to Hollywood standards.
The cockfight scene was cut by British censors.
Notes on the play
- When reciting the rules, Shooter clearly states "no string bets." Yet players repeatedly make string bets and no other players object.
- The game is open stakes. This is unusual, but permissible, in home games but is never allowed in casinos.
- According to an article by Michael Wiesenberg of Card Player Magazine, "he odds of the two hands appearing in the same deal (in the climactic scene) are worse than 45 million-to-1."
Critical reception
"Martin Ransohoff has constructed a taut, well-turned-out production. In Steve McQueen he has the near-perfect delineator of the title role. Edward G. Robinson is at his best in some years as the aging, ruthless Lancey Howard..." - Variety
DVD
The Cincinnati Kid was released on Region 1 DVD on May 31, 2005. The DVD features a commentary track by director Norman Jewison, commentary of selected scenes from Celebrity Poker Showdown hosts Phil Gordon and Dave Foley and The Cincinnati Kid Plays According to Hoyle, a promotional short featuring magician Jay Ose.
Quotes
- Slade: "How the hell'd you know I didn't have the king or the ace?"
Howard: "I recollect a young man putting the same question to Eddie the Dude. 'Son,' Eddie told him, 'all you paid was the looking price. Lessons are extra.'"
- The Kid: "Listen, Christian, after the game, I'll be The Man. I'll be the best there is. People will sit down at the table with you, just so they can say they played with The Man. And that's what I'm gonna be, Christian."
- Howard: "It's a pleasure to meet someone who understands that to the true gambler, money is never an end in itself, it's simply a tool, as a language is to thought."
- Lady Fingers: "How's it goin', Lancey?"
Howard: "That young man is a stud poker playing son of a..."
Lady Fingers: "He's gettin' to ya, huh Lancey?"
Howard: "No, not yet he isn't."
- Lady Fingers: "You raised his tens with a lousy three-flush?"
Howard: "Gets down to what it's all about, doesn't it? Making the wrong move at the right time."
References
- "The Cincinnati Kid" DVD director commentary
- "The Cincinnati Kid" DVD director commentary
- Carroll, E. Jean, "Last of the Desperadoes: Dueling with Sam Peckinpah," Rocky Mountain Magazine, March 1982
- "The Cincinnati Kid" DVD director commentary
- "The Cincinnati Kid" DVD director commentary
- BBC4 review
- Weisenberg, Michael, "Implausible Play in The Cincinnati Kid? A play-by-play analysis of a highly unlikely poker hand" Card Player magazine volume 18 number 16, August 23, 2005
- Variety review, 1965