Let It Ride (1989)

A nosy cab driver gets a hot tip on a race horse and wins big, but he can't seem to stop gambling. Will he go broke or walk home with a pretty penny?

Director:

Joe Pytka

Writers:

Jay Cronley (book), Nancy Dowd (screenplay) (as Ernest Morton)

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, David Johansen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Jay Trotter
David Johansen	...	Looney
Teri Garr	...	Pam
Jennifer Tilly	...	Vicki
Allen Garfield	...	Greenberg
Edward Walsh	...	Marty (as Ed Walsh)
Richard Edson	...	Johnny Casino
David Schramm	...	Lufkin
John Roselius	...	Reardon
Joseph Walsh	...	Vibes
Ralph Seymour	...	Sid
Cynthia Nixon	...	Evangeline
Richard Dimitri	...	Tony Cheeseburger
Robert Towers	...	Mickey Jax
Michelle Phillips	...	Mrs. Davis

Storyline

An average kind of guy who has a slight problem with gambling goes to the track, and mystically, it seems as though he can't lose, no matter how he bets; and he has an incredible day.

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Plot Keywords:

horse movie | gambling | bet | horse | bar | 

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Taglines:

He drinks. He smokes. He gambles. He curses. He thinks about committing adultery. You'll love him.

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Genres:

Comedy | Action

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's title is an expression that means, according to the Free Dictionary, "to allow something to continue or remain as it is". In a gambling sense, the phrase refers to the allowance of winnings to remain in the betting pool to continue on for the next bet. The "Let it Ride" phrase is also the name of a popular casino card game, where similarly, according to the Urban Dictionary, the "...winning chips remain on the table in hopes of winning the same number, color, row, or any feasible bet that previously won".

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Goofs

Trotter is handcuffed behind his back when he makes a dash for the betting window. When he is tripped, and slides on his stomach across the floor, you can see his hands (briefly) uncuffed.

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Quotes

Reardon: I have peripheral vision it's a gift.
Reardon: I can see my ears.
Reardon: There is now a guy throwing up on the pool table to my left.
Reardon: Two guys are asleep on the table on the right.
Reardon: One of the bulbs is burnt out overhead.
Reardon: There's a fly on the money box.

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Connections

Spoofed in A Certain Magical Pimpdex: Extended Edition (2019)

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Soundtracks

Cattle Call
by Tex Owens
Performed by Eddy Arnold
Courtesy of RCA Records, Cassettes, and CD's

User Reviews

Little-Known but Much-Loved!

Great movie! I'm surprised that it didn't do too well. My husband and I constantly quote it.

"God likes me! He really, really likes me!"

If you like Richard Dreyfuss, you'll love this movie. It highlights his comedic talent perfectly!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deux dollars sur un tocard

Filming Locations:

Hialeah Park - 2200 E. 4th Avenue, Hialeah, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,925,049, 20 August 1989

Gross USA:

$4,973,285

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,973,285

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hialeah Park Studios, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1