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House of Games (1987) 7.3
A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men. Director:David Mamet |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Lindsay Crouse | ... |
Margaret Ford
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| Joe Mantegna | ... |
Mike
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| Mike Nussbaum | ... |
Joey
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| Lilia Skala | ... |
Dr. Maria Littauer
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| J.T. Walsh | ... |
The Businessman
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| Willo Hausman | ... |
Girl with Book
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Karen Kohlhaas | ... |
Prison Ward Patient
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Steven Goldstein | ... |
Billy Hahn
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| Jack Wallace | ... |
Bartender - House of Games
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| Ricky Jay | ... |
George /
Vegas Man
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G. Roy Levin | ... |
Poker Player
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Bob Lumbra | ... |
Poker Player
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Andy Potok | ... |
Poker Player
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Allen Soule | ... |
Poker Player
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Ben Blakeman | ... |
Bartender - Charlie's Tavern
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
A famous psychologist, Margaret Ford, decides to try to help one of her patients get out of a gambling debt. She visits the bar where Mike, to whom the debt is owed, runs poker games. He convinces her to help him in a game: her assignment is to look for "tells", or give-away body language. What seems easy to her becomes much more complex. Written by John J. Magee <magee@helix.mgh.harvard.edu>
Taglines:
Nothing is as it seems. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
11 October 1987 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Dom gry See more »Filming Locations:
Seattle, Washington, USABox Office
Gross:
$2,585,639 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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George: That's right. If you wanna win the hand, you've gotta stay in 'til the end.
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(BWV 911)
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Warren Bernhardt, piano
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The hotel room that Mike takes Margaret to is room #1138 which is yet another reference to George Lucas's THX 1138. See more »Goofs
When Margaret first shoots Mike, a hole appears in his upper right pant leg; however, he grabs the part of his leg just behind his knee (well below the hole). See more »Quotes
Mike: What'd you do, win again?George: That's right. If you wanna win the hand, you've gotta stay in 'til the end.
See more »
Soundtracks
"Fugue from the Toccata in C Minor"(BWV 911)
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Warren Bernhardt, piano
See more »
House of Games is a wonderful movie at multiple levels. It is a fine mystery and a shocking thriller. It is blessed with marvelous performances by Lindsay Crouse and Joe Montegna, and a strong, strong cast of supporting players, and it introduces Ricky Jay, card sharp extraordinaire, prestidigitator and historian of magic. Its dialogue, written by David Mamet, is spoken as if in a play of manners and gives the movie (in which reality is often in question) an extra dimension of unrealness.
On the face of it, House of Games is a convincing glimpse into the unknown world of cheats and con men, diametrically different from The Sting, which was played merely for glamour and yuks. At this level it does succeed admirably.
However, you cannot escape the examination at a deeper level of the odyssey of a woman from complacent professional competence to incredible strength and self realization. The only movie I know of which treats the theme of emergence of personal strength in a woman in as worthy a way is the underrated Private Benjamin. That thoroughly enjoyable movie unfortunately diffuses its focus, hopping among several themes and exploiting the fine performance of Goldie Hawn to chase after some easy laughs. House of Games sticks to its business. As Poe once said of a good short story, it drives relentlessly to its conclusion.
There is another strain of movies-about-women, epitomized by Thelma and Louise, a big budget commercial money maker with the despicable theme that women are doomed, whether or not they realize their inner strengths. What tripe.
As usual you really ought to see this film in a movie theater. It should be a natural for film festivals. Nominate it for one near you if you get the chance.
I bought the original version of House of Games and gave it to my 23 year old daughter. Better she should see it on a TV than not at all.