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The Cincinnati Kid

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The Cincinnati Kid
Directed byNorman Jewison
Written byRichard Jessup (novel)
Ring Lardner Jr.
Terry Southern
Produced byMartin Ransohoff
StarringSteve McQueen
Edward G. Robinson
Ann-Margret
Karl Malden
Tuesday Weld
Joan Blondell
Rip Torn
Jack Weston
Cab Calloway
CinematographyPhilip H. Lathrop
Edited byHal Ashby
Music byLalo Schifrin
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
October 15, 1965
Running time
102 min.
LanguageEnglish

The Cincinnati Kid is a 1965 film. It tells the story of Eric "The Kid" Stoner, a young Depression-era poker player, as he seeks to establish his reputation as the best. This quest leads him to challenge Lancey "The Man" Howard, an older player widely considered to be the best, culminating in a climactic final poker hand between the two.

Based on the novel by Richard Jessup, the film was directed by Norman Jewison and stars Steve McQueen in the title role and Edward G. Robinson as Howard. Jewison, who replaced original director Sam Peckinpah shortly after filming began, describes The Cincinnati Kid as his "ugly duckling" film. He considers it the film that allowed him to transition from the lighter comedic films he had previously been making and take on more serious films and subjects.[1]

Upon release the film garnered favorable reviews. Robinson and castmate Joan Blondell in particular received award nominations for their performances as Howard and Lady Fingers. In the years since it has come to be seen as one of the greatest poker films ever made.

Cast

Production

The Cincinnati Kid was filmed on location in New Orleans, Louisiana, a change from the original St. Louis, Missouri setting of the novel. Spencer Tracy was originally cast as Lancey Howard but ill health forced him to decline the role.[2] Sam Peckinpah was originally hired to direct.[3] Producer Martin Ransohoff fired him shortly after filming began[4] for "vulgarizing the picture."[5] Peckinpah's version was to be shot in black-&-white to give the film a 1930s period feel. Jewison scrapped the black-&-white footage, feeling it was a mistake to shoot a film with the red and black of playing cards in greyscale. He did mute the colors throughout both to evoke the period and to help pop the card colors when they appeared.[1]

The film features a theme song performed by Ray Charles.[6]

Plot summary

Steve McQueen plays Eric Stoner, nicknamed "The Kid", an up-and-coming poker player. He hears that Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson), a long-time master of the game nicknamed "The Man", is in town, and decides to take him on. The Kid's friend Shooter (Karl Malden), cautions him, reminding the Kid how Shooter had thought he was the best five-card stud player in the world until Howard "gutted" him when they played.

Howard arrives in town and arranges a game with William Jefferson Slade (Rip Torn) and secures Shooter's services as dealer. Howard takes Slade for several thousand dollars over a 30-hour game, angering him and wounding his pride. That night at Slade's home, Slade first tries to bribe Shooter into cheating in the Kid's favor, then threatens to call in the markers he holds on Shooter and finally blackmails him by threatening to reveal damaging information about his wife, Melba (Ann-Margret). When Shooter asks him why he wants him to cheat, Slade tells him that he wants to see Lancey Howard gutted the way Howard gutted him. Shooter agonizes over his choice, having spent the last 25 years building a reputation for integrity.

With Stoner's girl Christian (Tuesday Weld) visiting her parents, Melba tries to seduce the Kid. Out of respect for Shooter he rebuffs her and goes to spend the day before the big game with Christian.

The big game starts with six players, including Howard, the Kid and Shooter as the dealer. In the first big confrontation between Stoner and Howard, Stoner is short $2,000 and Slade steps in to stake him. Several hours later, Howard busts the first player and the remaining players take a break. Following the break Lady Fingers (Joan Blondell), who's been delighting in needling Howard all evening, takes over as dealer and continues to needle him.

When Shooter returns to the game it's as the dealer only. As the game wears on all the other players drop out and The Man and The Kid play heads up until the Kid calls for a break. Back in his room, Stoner confronts Shooter, who's been using his skills as a mechanic to the Kid's advantage. Shooter tells him that he's being forced into cheating by Slade. The Kid insists he can win on his own and tells him to deal straight or he'll blow the whistle, destroying Shooter's reputation. After the Kid's nap Melba again tries to seduce him and this time he doesn't resist. Christian catches them after the fact and walks out on the Kid.

On another break in the game, Slade calls the Kid in to see him. Slade tells him that Shooter will continue to cheat in his favor. Despite Slade's threats, the Kid tells him he won't allow Shooter to cheat, insisting again that he'll beat Howard without anyone's help. Back at the game, Stoner maneuvers Shooter out of the dealer's chair and Lady Fingers takes over. The Kid goes on a rush and the Man loses several major pots. Howard is visibly losing confidence.

The final hand

Lady Fingers is dealing and the Kid is on the button. She deals Howard the 8♦ and Stoner the 10♣. The Kid bets $500 and The Man calls. Howard gets the Q♦ and Stoner the 10♠. Stoner bets $1,000 and Howard raises $1,000. Stoner calls. Lady Fingers deals Howard the 10♦ and The Kid gets the A♣. The Kid bets $3,000 and The Man calls. The Man's final card is the 9♦; The Kid gets the A♠. The Kid checks. The Man bets $1,000. The Kid raises $3,500 and is all in. Howard reaches into his wallet and raises another $5,000. The Man agrees to take his marker and the Kid calls the bet. The Man turns over the J♦ for a straight flush. Stoner turns over the A♥, showing that he lost with a full house, Aces full of tens.

Following the game, a gutted Kid leaves the hotel and loses a penny pitch to a shoe shine boy he'd beaten at the film's opening. He runs into Christian and they embrace.

Alternate versions

In some cuts, the film ends with a freeze-frame on Steve McQueen's face following his penny-pitching loss. This ending is rarely seen, as Turner Classic Movies and the DVD feature the ending with Christian. Jewison wanted to end the film with the freeze-frame but was overruled by the producer.[1]

The cockfight scene was cut by British censors.[7]

Notes on the play

  • When reciting the rules, Shooter clearly states "no string bets." Yet players repeatedly make string bets and no other players object.
  • The game is open stakes. This is unusual, but permissible, in home games but is not allowed in casinos.[8]
  • According to Anthony Holden in his book Big Deal: A Year as a Professional Poker Player, "the odds against any full house being beaten by any straight flush, in a two-handed game, are 45,102,781 : 1 ; the odds against these two particular hands coinciding are astronomical. Given that the Kid's full house contains tens, and that one ten is already in his opponent's hand, the chances that both of these hands will appear in one deal...have been calcuated at a laughable 332,220,508,619: 1 or well over 300 billion : 1 against. If these two played fifty hands of stud an hour, eight hours a day, five days a week, the situation would arise about once every 443 years."

Critical reception

The Cincinnati Kid was favorably reviewed upon release, notably by Variety which wrote "Martin Ransohoff has constructed a taut, well-turned-out production. In Steve McQueen he has the near-perfect delineator of the title role. Edward G. Robinson is at his best in some years as the aging, ruthless Lancey Howard...."[9]

Joan Blondell in particular was singled out for her performance as Lady Fingers with a Laurel Award win and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Edward G. Robinson was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Laurel Award for his portrayal of Lancey Howard.[10]

With the release of the film on DVD, modern reviewers have echoed the earlier praise for both film and cast, saying the film "is as hip now as when it was released in 1965"[11] and citing McQueen as "effortlessly watchable as the Kid, providing a masterclass in the power of natural screen presence over dialogue" and Robinson "simply fantastic."[12] Noted poker author Michael Wiesenberg calls The Cincinnati Kid "[o]ne of the greatest poker movies of all time."[13]

DVD

The Cincinnati Kid was released on Region 1 DVD on May 31, 2005. The DVD features a commentary track by director Norman Jewison, commentary of selected scenes from Celebrity Poker Showdown hosts Phil Gordon and Dave Foley and The Cincinnati Kid Plays According to Hoyle, a promotional short featuring magician Jay Ose.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Jewison, Norman (2005). The Cincinnati Kid director commentary (DVD). Turner Entertainment Co.
  2. ^ Deschner, David (1993). The Complete Films of Spencer Tracy. Citadel Press. p. 57.
  3. ^ Hartman, Steven. "Film Notes: Cincinnati Kid". University at Albanny. New York State Writers Institute. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
  4. ^ Jewison, Norman (2005). The Cincinnati Kid director commentary (DVD). Turner Entertainment Co.
  5. ^ Carroll, E. Jean (March 1982), "Last of the Desperadoes: Dueling with Sam Peckinpah", Rocky Mountain Magazine{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ The Cincinnati Kid opening credits
  7. ^ "The Cincinnati Kid Review". Channel4.com. Retrieved 2007-07-30. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Ciaffone, Robert. "Robert's Rules of Poker — Version 6". Pokercoach.us. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  9. ^ "Review". Variety. 1965. Retrieved 2007-07-30. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  10. ^ "Awards for The Cincinnati Kid". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  11. ^ Cullum, Brett (June 13 2005). "DVD Verdict Review: The Cincinnati Kid". DVD Verdict. Retrieved 2007-09-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Sutton, Mike (June 20 2005). "The Cincinnati Kid". DVD Times. Retrieved 2007-09-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Weisenberg, Michael (August 23, 2005), "Implausible Play in The Cincinnati Kid? A play-by-play analysis of a highly unlikely poker hand", Card Player Magazine {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  14. ^ Barnes & Noble. "Cincinnati Kid, The (DVD)". Retrieved 2007-09-13.
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