Cincinatti Kid all-time best

The 1965 Steve McQueen poker film is the best gambling movie ever made, according to 888.com. As resported in Scotsman.com, here's the top 20 list:

1. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
2. Casino (1995)
3. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
4. Oceans Eleven (2001)
5. The Sting (1973)
6. Maverick (1994)
7. Rounders (1998)
8. Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
9. Casino Royale (1967)
10. The Gamble (1998)
11. Rain Man (1988)
12. The Hustler (1961)
13. The Color of Money (1986)
14. Lucky Town (2000)
15. Las Vegas (2003)
16. Snake Eyes (1998)
17. Croupier (1998)
18. The Music of Chance (1993)
19. Havana (1990)
20. Face (1997)

Classic Cincinnati Kid holds all the aces

As I reported a few months ago, The Cincinatti Kid is Gary Busey's favorite gambling movie of all time. There's a guy who's got his finger on the pulse of gamblers everywhere.

As far as the rankings, I am elated that Warren Beatty's crapfest Bugsy was nowhere near the list. Snake Eyes is a personal favorite, only because it was filmed at the Trump Taj Mahal and Nicholas Cage's character had my former boss's name. I'd have dumped the 2001 Ocean's Eleven for the 1960 original.

It's also great to see Croupier and Music of Chance, two lesser known movies, up there--I'd have both higher on the list. I'd put The Cooler on there too, and maybe the remake of The Ladykillers, which was a casino heist film.

Anyone else have thoughts on great movies about gambling?

posted by Dave at 8:30 AM

I have to say that two of my favorite gambling-related movies were recommended to me by a dealer.
1: Mafia! (no clue what year)
2: National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation (older I think)

I'm a sucker for slapstick, especially when it involves the inner workings of a casino--in Mafia! they had totally ludicrous table games like "Pick the Number", "52 Pick-up", and something along the lines of "You Can't Win", which was a table manned by a dealer holding a huge paddle, shoving tons of money down the slot as people just threw it at him. Slot machines with names like "Lose It All!" populated the Peppermill Casino (supposedly in Las Vegas... but we know better). There was so much money to be made that they vacuumed it off the tables, and then it went directly to a count room, and the workers there were catching the flying money with huge nets. And... dear, dear, a player rolled something on the craps table, and they had a close-up of what came to rest at the end of the table: two little pieces of poo, to which the stickman announced "Craps! You lose." There is also a situation involving spooking in the blackjack pit that is really lame, but funny if you imagine yourself to be someone who doesn't know about the game.
Vegas Vacation had similar freaky games (including, of all things, War) and an obnoxious dealer. He would come back from break and every player at his table would leave... except Chevy Chase, who, of course, gets slammed. I'd say it is a brilliant analysis of the mind of the gambler, but, unfortunately, he wins in the end (albeit due to miraculous circumstances).
I also liked Croupier. It was very freaky and intelligent. And you might have guessed that I also liked Casino Royale. Where else would you see a roulette wheel flying around the casino? *sheesh*
Those are my thoughts on the subject. Anyone else?
????!

Cincinatti Kid all-time best

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