Despite the name, I never considered Casino a gambling movie, more of a mob movie. Rounders is a good pick.
Re: Re: Great Gambling Movies Better than any film in history, "Casino" documents exactly what goes behind gambling. My favorites: Johnny Guitar (1954) The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) The Hustler (1961) House of Games(1987) Casino (1995)
Re: Re: Re: Great Gambling Movies Well... if I remember it correctly, wouldn't it be more accurate to say "Casino" documents exactly what goes behind the gambling industry?
Re: Re: Re: Great Gambling Movies The Hustler is about pool playing. House of Games is about scam and confidence men. Agreed with jmh30, Casino is about the gaming industry.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Great Gambling Movies THe Hustler is about GAMBLING on pool........ Great movie also...
Re: Re: Great Gambling Movies Well, Gambling and the mob went hand in hand back in those days. And while the movie doesn't center on playing poker, or blackjack, or actual gambling, it is a main focus of the film.
MeridianFC's Best Bets movies about some facet of gambling or with good gambling scenes the Reel Deal: Hardcore Gambling Flicks Rounders Hard Eight California Split the Croupier Cincinnati Kid the Gambler the Hustler Bob le Flambeur Side Pot: Classic Gambling Scenes the Sting House of Games Killing of a Chinese Bookie Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels the Man With the Golden Arm Maverick Music of Chance Standing Pat: Contains Some Shots w/ Cheques Casino Honorable mention goes to the (Belgian I believe) short film about a fellow who dies at the roulette table (based on a true story). A gentleman's for anyone who can tell me the name of this flippin' film. This is such a great day for this topic as I took home all the bacon in our monthly Hold 'Em tourney last night. "No limit hold 'em, the cadillac of poker."
Ditto on Hard Eight and The Croupier -- they are great "smaller" gambling films. But Hard Eight is by far the better of the two, imho. John Reilly rules.
Just because, I present: MeridianFC's Guide to the Great Gamblin' Books The Play of the Hand: Books About the Life the Gambler - Dostoyevsky the Biggest Game in Town - A. Alverez Poker: Bets, Bluffs, and Bad Beats - A. Alverez Rounders - Kevin Canty the Little Book of Poker - David Spanier the Hand I Played - David Spanier Poker Nation - Andy Bellin Shut Up and Deal - Jesse May the Man with $100,000 Breasts & Other Gambling Stories - Michael Konik Education of a Poker Player - Herbert O. Yardley Big Deal - Anthony Holden: One Year As a Professional Poker Player Scarne on Cards - John Scarne Nuts and Bolts: How To Winning Low Limit Hold 'Em - Lee Jones Hold 'Em Excellence - Lou Krieger More Hold 'Em Excellence Theory of Poker - David Sklansky Super System - Doyle Brunson et al Caro's Book of Tells - Mike Caro Zen and the Art of Poker - Larry W. Phillips Official Dictionary of Poker - Michael Wiesenberg Casino Self Defense - Andy Glazer *Be warned most instructional gambling books are terrible. If you see a book on how to beat roulette it is a lie. There are just half a dozen bets you need to know for craps. And unless you're willing to memorize (an admittedly easy) basic chart of plays, don't think about black jack (which oddly enough is the only house game that you can theoretically turn the odds to your favor...by almost 1%!). As for the ponies and sports books, you definitely have to study, study, study. Obviously my predeliction is for the turn of the cards, but I have been known to bet dark with the Bones or give the house it's generous 5% at roulette (the worst possible casino game, but outside of poker, the most fun).
Meridian! You mentioned both The Gambler by Dostoevsky and the movie The Gambler without answering my question! Are they related? Hmm...Hold 'em tourney, you say...Hmmm..You don't happen to live in DC, do you?
Sorry. They are sort of related. The movie stars James Caan as an out of control gambler and I guess there certainly is a nod to Dostoyevsky's book, but it's not a direct take. The movie was called "La Flambeur" in France, but is not to be confused with "Bob La Flambeur". Yes, I live in DC. If your interested in a wee turn o' the cards give me E-mail at the address in my profile. You aren't part of the Capital City Poker Club mob are you?
nah, meridian, I was joking, I love my money way too much to play cards with someone who knows as much about gambling as you seem to. Find another mark.
I just bought Bringing Down the House. It should be a fun read, the reviewers on Amazon.com absolutely love it. Apparently it's not for the avid gambling reader cause parts may be inaccurate/improbable, but that's not me so I think I'll enjoy it.
Miller's Crossing. Tom's loosing streak and Bernie Bernbaum's chiseling of bets starts the whole movie in motion and reappears through out. Ok, that's a stretch..but I'll look for any reason to bring it up.