Film Snail

7.0

The Cincinnati Kid

NR·1965·102m

Drama

Summary

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

Cast

Steve McQueen

Eric Stoner ("The Cincinnati Kid")

Edward G. Robinson

Lancey Howard

Ann-Margret

Melba Nile

Karl Malden

Shooter

Tuesday Weld

Christian Rudd

Joan Blondell

Lady Fingers

Rip Torn

William Jefferson Slade

Jack Weston

Pig

Cab Calloway

Yeller

Jeff Corey

Hoban

Theo Marcuse

Felix

Milton Selzer

Sokal

Karl Swenson

Mr. Rudd

Émile Genest

Cajun

Ron Soble

Danny

Irene Tedrow

Mrs. Rudd

Midge Ware

Mrs. Slade

Dub Taylor

Dealer

Andy Albin

Referee (uncredited)

Leon Alton

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

John Barton

Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)

James J. Casino

Poker Player (uncredited)

William Challee

Old Man (uncredited)

Noble 'Kid' Chissell

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Gene Coogan

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Mimi Dillard

Slade's Girlfriend (uncredited)

Robert DoQui

Philly (uncredited)

Larry Duran

Gambler (uncredited)

Daniel Elam

Waiter (uncredited)

George Ford

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Sig Frohlich

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Wesley Gale

Waiter (uncredited)

Rudy Germane

Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Bobby Gilbert

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

George Golden

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Ken Grant

Shoeshine Boy (uncredited)

Michael Greene

Hustler (uncredited)

Raven Grey Eagle

Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)

Claude Hall

Gambler (uncredited)

Virginia Harrison

Employee (uncredited)

John Hart

Poker Player (uncredited)

Harry Hines

Old Man (uncredited)

George Holmes

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Jimmie Horan

Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)

Breena Howard

Cajun's Woman (uncredited)

John Indrisano

Gambler (uncredited)

Colin Kenny

Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)

Richard LaMarr

Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)

John Marlin

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Gregg Martell

Danny's Henchman (uncredited)

Pat McCaffrie

Poker Player (uncredited)

Sandy McPeak

Poker Player (uncredited)

Mike Morelli

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Sol Murgi

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Burt Mustin

Old Man (uncredited)

Barry O'Hara

Eddie (uncredited)

Brett Pearson

Gambler (uncredited)

Joyce Perry

Mrs. Hoban (uncredited)

Paul Ravel

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Waclaw Rekwart

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Christopher Riordan

Railroad Worker (uncredited)

Bernard Sell

Poker Game Spectator (uncredited)

Olan Soule

Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Robert Stevenson

Gambler (uncredited)

Hal Taggart

Bettor (uncredited)

Paul Verdier

Second Bettor (uncredited)

Charles Wagenheim

Old Man (uncredited)

Howard Wendell

Charlie (uncredited)

Harry Wilson

Spectator at Cockfight (uncredited)

Dick Winslow

Poker Player (uncredited)

Bill Zuckert

Poker Player (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Norman Jewison

Novel

Richard Jessup

Screenplay

Terry Southern

Screenplay

Ring Lardner, Jr.

Reviews

John Chard

October 4, 2015

People will sit down at the table with you, just so they can say they played with The Man

Blah blah blah is the feelings I get when I see comments about this being McQueen's answer to The Hustler, the Newman film is firmly ensconced in the hall of classics and rightly so, but this is a different animal that stands up on its own two feet as a great film regardless of comparisons of leading men or films they respectively delivered.

"It's a pleasure to meet someone who understands that to the true gambler, money is never an end in itself, it's simply a tool, as a language is to thought"

Steve McQueen is The Cincinnati Kid of the title, a young man who has an enviable reputation as the pretender to the throne of the king stud poker player. Standing in his way of claiming the crown is the holder of said crown, Lancey "The Man" Howard (a wonderfully sedate yet dominant Edward G. Robinson), both men are in New Orleans for the big showdown across the card table.

The film does suffer slightly from a meandering script, though, because you can't help feeling that there is so much more to these characters that needed fleshing out before the big tense showdown arises. However, the cast and director manage to stere the film home with a glorious final third. Suspense and drama start to boil to the surface, the tight knit editing bringing claustrophobic clarity to the enormity of the game.

McQueen is perfect here, cocky and cool in equal measure, yet still infusing the role with stoic heart and honest endearment. Tuesday Weld & Ann-Margret are playing second fiddle in the acting stakes to a delightful turn from Joan Blondell (a little under used though), but both Weld and Margret bring their respective girls' traits to life, with Margret positively smouldering with femme fatale sex appeal.

Karl Malden is solid and safe, whilst Rip Torn gives an acting lesson in dialogue driven menace. Yet in all honesty it's director Norman Jewison who has the trump card here. Once the game commences, even those who know nothing about a good game of poker are firmly watching every frame, such is the intense way that Jewison has brought the finale together.

No cop outs here, a film about egos, ambitions and personal satisfaction is gloriously laid out for a very enjoyable viewing experience. 8/10