The Gambler (1974 film)
| The Gambler | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Karel Reisz |
| Produced by | Robert Chartoff Irwin Winkler |
| Written by | James Toback |
| Starring | James Caan Paul Sorvino Lauren Hutton |
| Music by | Jerry Fielding |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 1974 (USA) |
| Running time | 111 min. |
| Language | English |
The Gambler is a 1974 feature film starring James Caan, Lauren Hutton, and Paul Sorvino.
The film is loosely based on the short novel The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoyevsky[1][2] and was filmed at a time when leading actor James Caan was battling his own addiction to cocaine. Caan was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Axel Freed is a New York City English professor with a gambling addiction that begins to spiral out of control. In the classroom, Freed inspires his college students with his interpretations of Dostoevsky's work. In his personal life, Axel has the affection of the beautiful Billie and the admiration of his family, including his mother Naomi, a doctor, and his grandfather, a wealthy businessman.
Unbeknownst to them, Axel's reckless gambling on basketball games has left him with a huge debt. His bookie Hips likes the professor personally but threatens grave consequences if he doesn't pay up.
Axel's descent into addiction requires him to extort a hefty $44,000 from his mortified mother to repay what he owes. He goes away with Billie to a casino where he makes a small fortune, only to blow it all again on basketball bets. He takes out his anger on Billie, who does not appreciate having loan sharks come to their apartment in the middle of the night. Expecting help from his grandfather, Axel gets nothing but the older man's disappointment and disgust.
The only solution left is to lure one of his students, a basketball star, into accepting a bribe to shave points in a game so that Axel can pay off his debts. Having corrupted a previously innocent youth, Axel is so appalled by his own behavior that he masochistically confronts a dangerous man who leaves him with a bloody and permanent reminder of his actions.
[edit] Cast
- James Caan as Axel Freed
- Paul Sorvino as Hips
- Lauren Hutton as Billie
- Morris Carnovsky as A.R. Lowenthal
- Jacqueline Brookes as Naomi Freed
- Burt Young as Carmine
[edit] Remake
Paramount Pictures is currently developing a remake of The Gambler with the original producers, Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. Intended as a new directorial project for Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio is attached as the star and William Monahan will write the screenplay.[3] James Toback, the screenwriter of the original, has criticized the development of the remake.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Lyons, Paul. The Quotable Gambler, Globe Pequot, 1999, ISBN 1558219498, 9781558219496, p.305.
- ^ Bronson, Eric. Poker and Philosophy: Pocket Rockets and Philosopher Kings Open Court Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0812695941, 9780812695946, p.57.
- ^ Mike Fleming (2011-08-26). "Leonardo DiCaprio Attached To ‘Gambler’ Remake At Paramount With Martin Scorsese". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/leonardo-dicaprio-attached-to-the-gambler-remake/. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
- ^ Nikki Finke (2011-08-28). "James Toback On ‘The Gambler’ Remake: “Not Possible… Rudeness And Disrespect”". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/james-toback-on-the-gambler-remake-rudeness-and-disrespect/#more-164341. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
[edit] External links
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