The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Richard Jessup (novel)
Ring Lardner Jr. (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 October 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A RAMBLING - GAMBLING MAN ... ! !

Plot:

An up-and-coming poker player tries to prove himself in a high-stakes match against a long-time master of the game.

Plot Keywords:

Poker | High Stakes | 1930s | Stud Poker | Blackmail

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	The Cincinnati Kid
Ann-Margret	...	Melba
Karl Malden	...	Shooter
Tuesday Weld	...	Christian
Edward G. Robinson	...	Lancey Howard
Joan Blondell	...	Lady Fingers
Rip Torn	...	Slade
Jack Weston	...	Pig
Cab Calloway	...	Yeller
Jeff Corey	...	Hoban
Theodore Marcuse	...	Felix (as Theo Marcuse)
Milton Selzer	...	Sokal
Karl Swenson	...	Mr. Rudd
Émile Genest	...	Cajun (as Emile Genest)
Ron Soble	...	Danny
Irene Tedrow	...	Mrs. Rudd
Midge Ware	...	Mrs. Slade
Dub Taylor	...	Dealer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Albin	...	Referee (uncredited)
William Challee	...	Old Man (uncredited)
Mimi Dillard	...	Slade's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Robert DoQui	...	Philly (uncredited)
Larry Duran	...	Gambler - First Game (uncredited)
Donald Elson	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Sweet Emma	...	Blues Singer (uncredited)
Ken Grant	...	Shoeshine Boy (uncredited)
Claude Hall	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Virginia Harrison	...	Employee (uncredited)
John Hart	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Harry Hines	...	Old Man in Pool Hall (uncredited)
Brenda Howard	...	Cajun's Woman (uncredited)
John Indrisano	...	Gambler - First Game (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)
Gregg Martell	...	Danny's Henchman (uncredited)
Pat McCaffrie	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Sandy McPeak	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Burt Mustin	...	Old Man in Pool Hall (uncredited)
Barry O'Hara	...	Eddie (uncredited)
Brett Pearson	...	Gambler - First Game (uncredited)
Joyce Perry	...	Mrs. Hoban (uncredited)
Christopher Riordan	...	Railroad Worker (uncredited)
Olan Soule	...	Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson	...	Gambler - First Game (uncredited)
Joseph B. Stewart	...	White Man at Funeral Parade (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Bettor (uncredited)
Paul Verdier	...	Second Bettor (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim	...	Old Man (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	...	(uncredited)
Howard Wendell	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)
Dick Winslow	...	Second Player (uncredited)
Bill Zuckert	...	Poker Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Jewison

Writing credits
Richard Jessup		(novel "The Cincinnati Kid")
Ring Lardner Jr.		(screenplay) and
Terry Southern		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Calley	....	associate producer
Martin Ransohoff	....	producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Hal Ashby

Art Direction by
Edward C. Carfagno		(as Edward Carfagno)
George W. Davis

Set Decoration by
Henry Grace
Hugh Hunt

Costume Design by
Donfeld

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist
Jay Sebring	....	hair designer: Steve McQueen (uncredited)

Production Management
Austen Jewell	....	unit production manager
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	assistant production manager: MGM (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kurt Neumann	....	assistant director
Lynn Guthrie	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Franklin Milton	....	recording supervisor

Stunts
Archie Butler	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry Duran	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bud Ekins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Moio	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Leonard J. South	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Armbruster	....	conductor: orchestra
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
• Filmways Pictures (producer) (as Filmways)
• Solar Productions (producer) (as Solar)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1970) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (1993) | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Final film of Harry Wilson.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final hand, Lancey overlaps his exposed cards similar to a solitaire row, the Queen of diamonds is the top card while everyone is discussing if he has the Jack or not. A few seconds later, the cards are reversed and the Queen is the bottom card.

Quotes:

Cincinnati 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.
Christian:I know.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Tom Cruise: The Star Next Door" (1990)

Soundtrack:

The Cincinnati Kid

'You just not ready for me, yet.'

A movie that shows the world of gamblers and card players should be elegant, claustrophobic, decadent, sexy an full of suspense. In 'The Cincinnati Kid' these are mixed in the most delicious way. Set in New Orleans, during the Depression the film tells the story of 'Cincinnati Kid', who wants to be the best card player in the world. He has the opportunity when the best ones get together in New Orleans for a marathon-lenght poker party. It's obvious that the final party would be between The Kid and Lancey Howard (very cool: Edward G. Robinson). It's a fine classic like almost all Steve McQueen-movies. McQueen is the king of cools and the supporting cast is good too. Tuesday Weld is pretty but Ann-Margret is the most seductive chick in town. The cock-fight scene and the final poker party is fantastically photographed and wonderfully edited (by Hal Ashby, who later directed the 'Coming Home'). And the music! Lalo Schifrin is a master and Ray Charles' song is simply fantastic and fits to the set and mood of the movie. The ending is unusual and unpredictable, but in my opinion it's very fair. Norman Jewison must have been liked his actors very much. The only flaw is the women hair-style. But it's an usual thing mostly in the films from the 60s (like 'Doctor Zhivago'). Although it's regarded as a classic, the wide audience don't recognize and respect it - 'You just not ready for me, yet.'