The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

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

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

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

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret, Edward G. Robinson

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In 1930s New Orleans, the Cincinnati Kid, a young stud poker player who travels from one big game to the next, stopping along the way up with various girls, is pitted against the legendary champion card-sharp Lancey Howard in a high-stakes poker game.

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Plot Keywords:

poker | high stakes | poker player | based on novel | stud poker | 

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Taglines:

HIGH FURY AND GNAWING FEAR!!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1965 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Cincinnati Kid

Filming Locations:

600 St Charles Ave. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$15,260,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmways Pictures,Solar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Sam Peckinpah insisted on changing an early expository scene in which a girl in her underwear is massaged with a vibrator. He removed the vibrator from the scene altogether and had the girl lie naked but completely covered with a fur coat. Producer Martin Ransohoff was unhappy with the shift in tone and fired Peckinpah.

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Goofs

When the Kid is playing a card trick with Christian's father, the deck changes positions between camera angles. When the Kid is showing the trick to the father, he is wearing a coat. When the mother comes in to see the trick, the jacket is gone and nowhere to be found.

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Quotes

Shooter: You've been the man for a long time...
Lancey Howard: That is undoubtedly true but don't let that fool you. I'm not ready to retire yet.

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Connections

Referenced in The Divide: I'm for Justice (2014)

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Soundtracks

I've Got You Under My Skin
(uncredited)
Written by Cole Porter

User Reviews

A slick, smart and well acted gem of a film

Eric Stoner - The Cincinnati Kid (Steve Mqcueen) is going to take on The Man - Lancy Howard (A great as usual Edward G. Robinson) in the biggest poker game you will ever see, and you better not miss it. The movie follows the few days before the big game of the Cincinatti Kid and several other characters who in one way or another could be affected by the games results: One is a sort of a shady gangster (Rip Torn) who was "butchered" by "The Man" not very long ago and will do anything to get even with him including threaten and bribe one of the dealers named Shooter (Karl Malden) who is The kid's best friend. Also in the mix is Shooter's sexy and seductive wife Melba (Ann-Margret at her most beauty) who has a few things on her mind (one of them is money of course and none of them is her poor husband) and also are trying to tempt Mcqueen's Character who is in relationships with a sweet and innocent country girl named Christian (the lovely Tuesday Weld) who wants to settle down. the film hasn't got even one boring minute thanks to the first rate cast and the interesting dialogs. The final showdown at the hotel is probably the most tense and interesting poker game ever filmed in a movie. And who can forget the last thing Lancy tells the kid: "Gets down to what it's all about, doesn't it? Making the wrong move at the right time." Recommended 10/10