The Cincinnati Kid
| The Cincinnati Kid | |
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theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Norman Jewison |
| Produced by | Martin Ransohoff |
| Screenplay by |
Ring Lardner Jr. Terry Southern |
| Based on |
The Cincinnati Kid 1963 novel by Richard Jessup |
| Starring |
Steve McQueen Edward G. Robinson Ann-Margret Karl Malden Tuesday Weld |
| Music by | Lalo Schifrin |
| Cinematography | Philip H. Lathrop |
| Edited by | Hal Ashby |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1965,original) Warner Bros. (2005, DVD and 2011, Blu-ray DVD) |
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Release date
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Running time
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102 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $7,000,000 (US/ Canada rentals) |
The Cincinnati Kid is a 1965 American drama 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.
The script, adapted from Richard Jessup's novel, was written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Terry Southern; it was Lardner's first major studio work since his 1947 blacklisting as one of The Hollywood Ten. 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.
The film garnered mixed reviews from critics on its initial release; supporting actors Robinson and Joan Blondell earned award nominations for their performances.
Eric Stoner, nicknamed "The Kid," is an up-and-coming poker player in New Orleans. He hears that Lancey Howard, a longtime master of the game nicknamed "The Man," is in town, and sees it as his chance to finally become the Man himself. The Kid's friend Shooter cautions him, reminding the Kid how he thought he was the best five-card stud player in the world, until Howard "gutted" him when they played.
Howard arranges a game with wealthy William Jefferson Slade, who secures Shooter's services as dealer. Howard wins $6,000 from Slade over a 30-hour game, angering Slade and wounding his pride. That night at Slade's home, he tries to bribe Shooter into cheating in the Kid's favor when the two players meet. Shooter declines, but Slade calls in Shooter's markers worth $12,000, and blackmails him by threatening to reveal damaging information about Shooter's wild wife, Melba. Shooter agonizes over his decision, having spent the last 25 years building a reputation for integrity.
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Wikipedia