Croupier (1998)

An aspiring writer is hired as a croupier at a casino, where he realizes that his life as a croupier would make a great novel.

Director:

Mike Hodges

Writer:

Paul Mayersberg

Stars:

Clive Owen, Nick Reding, Nicholas Ball

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clive Owen	...	Jack Manfred
Nick Reding	...	Giles Cremorne
Nicholas Ball	...	Jack Snr.
Alexander Morton	...	David Reynolds
Barnaby Kay	...	Car Dealer
Gina McKee	...	Marion Nell
John Radcliffe	...	Barber
Sheila Whitfield	...	Manicurist
David Hamilton	...	Casino Supervisor
Carol Davis	...	Table Supervisor
Eddie Osei	...	West Indian Punter
Doremy Vernon	...	Woman I
Claudine Carter	...	Woman II
Ursula Alberts	...	Madame Claude
Neville Phillips	...	White Haired Man

Storyline

Jack Manfred is an aspiring writer going nowhere fast. To make ends meet, and against his better judgement, he takes a job as a croupier. He finds himself drawn into the casino world and the job gradually takes over his life; his relationship with girlfriend Marion begins to deteriorate. One gambler in particular catches his attention: Jani, whom he starts to see outside of working hours - a serious violation of casino rules. Jani is down on her luck; under pressure from her creditors she approaches Jack, asking him to be the inside man for a planned heist at the casino. Jack carefully considers the odds; it all looks so simple, but even a professional like Jack can't predict the cards he will be dealt.

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Plot Keywords:

casino | croupier | gambler | novel | writer | 

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Taglines:

Life's a Gamble

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Ireland UK France Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Croupier

Filming Locations:

Infostudios, Monheim, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£41,843 (United Kingdom), 29 June 2001, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$80,247, 23 April 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,198,916, 29 October 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte,Channel Four Films,La Sept-Arte

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film co-stars Alex Kingston, a decade before she joined the BBC science fiction adventure TV series "Doctor Who" as River Song in 2008.

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Goofs

When Jack removes his shirt at Bella's place, we see the wound on his left shoulder across the collarbone. Later on when he removes his shirt in front of Jani at Giles's house, the wound is further down on his chest.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jack: [self reflection] Now he had become the still center of that spinning wheel of misfortune. The world turned 'round him leaving him miraculously untouched. The croupier had reached his goal. He no longer heard the sound of the ball.

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Connections

Referenced in Orange Is the New Black: Low Self Esteem City (2014)

User Reviews

Black Jack

Mike Hodges' film 'Croupier' tells the stark story of Jack Manfred, a writer who sells his soul to work in a casino. As might be expected from the director of 'Get Carter', the acting is deadpan throughout, and the plot is likewise understated: the point is less what happens than the fact that Jack can deal with it. Yet this (short) film is oddly compelling: although we actually get only a brief insight into the workings of the casino, there's something very addictive about the way it is presented, the film has the smack of authenticity and one watches transfixed, as if one was being shown it all for real. Also effectively communicated is the mixture of alienation and exhilaration that comes to possess and drive an increasingly dehumanised Jack. 'Croupier' is not the best film ever made, but it never oversells itself and holds one's attention throughout. A highly effective and distinctive thriller.