The Only Game in Town (1970)

Fran walks into a piano bar for pizza. She comes back home with Joe, the piano player. Joe plans on winning $5,000 and leave Las Vegas. Fran waits for something else. Meanwhile, he moves in with her.

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Frank D. Gilroy (play), Frank D. Gilroy (screenplay)

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Warren Beatty, Charles Braswell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Fran Walker
Warren Beatty	...	Joe Grady
Charles Braswell	...	Lockwood
Hank Henry	...	Tony
Olga Valéry	...	Hooker (as Olga Valery)

Storyline

While waiting in vain for her married lover to get a divorce, Fran Walker, a lonely chorus girl approaching middle age, falls for Joe Grady, a frustrated musician and compulsive gambler who dreams of escaping Las Vegas for fame and fortune in New York City.

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Plot Keywords:

fishing | watching a movie on tv | champagne | beer | reference to humphrey bogart | 

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Taglines:

Dice was his vice. Men hers.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Juego de amor y deseo

Filming Locations:

Caesars Palace - 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film of George Stevens.

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Goofs

When Fran gets off work at Desert Inn at beginning of film, her walk home makes no geographical sense. She is strolling past hotels, chapels and casinos miles apart and in completely opposite directions.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

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Soundtracks

My Blue Heaven
(uncredited)
Music by Walter Donaldson
Played by Joe at the piano

User Reviews

Love Triangle: Taylor, Beatty, Braswell...

This rarity, the last film to be directed by the great George Stevens (Shane, Giant) was shown on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

Typically of the sort of talky romantic mush that Taylor did at this point in her career, it's set in Las Vegas. She's described as being a chorus girl (a 38 year-old one, if my maths is correct) and Beatty, a handsome club piano player, who happens to have a history of gambling woes.

He wants enough money to leave this town of temptation and bad memories, she wants him. And, when 5 year standing flame, the older, and married Charles Braswell, comes back to her, saying he's now divorced and wants to whisk her off to England, cue battle of words, emotions - and the usual. So, who will win her heart? Obviously, neither are suitable but this Hollywood!

It's largely set-bound and often argumentative; Beatty is charismatically watchable but Taylor is just doing the same act and routine, whilst Braswell, intentionally cast as the solid, boring one, is just that. Being (I guess, I couldn't find an age rating) a PG certificate, there's no sex or swearing, both of which, frankly would have added a bit of 'life' into the mix. A jazz score by Maurice Jarre does add atmosphere, though, with melancholic saxophone solos wailing into the night, which helps.

Whilst never quite slipping into tedium, the near two hour running time hardly helps but at least it looks good, with good colour and production values. There are a few casino scenes for those that like such. It's based on a play by Frank D Gilroy, who also adapted it and like so many similar dramas from theatrical sources, you can't help feeling that it'd work better on stage.

So, is it worth watching? If it comes on TV or if you know someone with a copy, yes; you won't see anything new but Lizzy Taylor still is Elizabeth Taylor and Beatty keeps it ticking over nicely. But otherwise, unless you hold a special interest in any of the actors, or the play, then, it's hardly worth pursuing.