The Cincinnati Kid (2011)

Originally set in St. Louis in Jessup's novel and transferred by the screenwriters (wisely) to more sporting New Orleans, this production of The Cincinnati Kid scores big with any fan of card play. The cast is an assembly of veteran actors centered around the number one box office draw at the time, Steve McQueen. You could say that Edward G. Robinson and Karl Malden co-star due to the importance of their roles throughout the movie, but make no mistake, McQueen was the reason people went to see this picture.(and no doubt Ann Margaret) I'll leave the description of the plot to other reviewers who have done well here and tell you that McQueen was extremely concerned during the making of this production that Edward G. Robinson was taking over the picture! His presence on screen is "unmatched" and I say that with a twinkle in the eye because of a scene where Robinson speaks to McQueen holding a lit matchstick that is held so long you can't understand why he was not burned. It is a powerful scene and was one of the reasons McQueen raised a fuss about his amount of time in the picture. The film is serious about five card stud poker as a professional gambling game and has sub-plots that had nothing to do with the original novel.Malden's performance as 'The Shooter' is excellent but you get that "Streets of San Francisco" feeling as you watch him. Joan Blondell seems to reprise her role as Zeena from "Nightmare Alley". The "Southern-ess" of this film is a strong point and the time period is during the depression. The only other film to match the atmosphere was "Hard Times" with Charles Bronson. If you are looking for an entertaining, different locale film about an era far removed from today's pace this is a great movie to get. One of the best films about gaming and gambling ever made!

With respect to the current DVD copy, I have a complaint to make regarding the scene specific commentary provided by two idiots named Phil Gordon and Dave Foley. Instead of a discussion about the scenes we are addressed on the superior card game of "Texas Hold'em" and they make BIG mistakes on what they are observing because they don't know anything about the 1930s and what the world was like back then. One was when McQueen is packing his bag. Phil and Dave comment that he is packing several decks of cards when in reality it is about 5 packs of Lucky Strike Cigarettes, which featured a green box with the red target circle. Another is when Edward G. Robinson and Mcqueen & Co. are "smelling" the packs of cards brought from the Bridge club. They are checking the smell of the celophane to see if the decks may have been opened. Norman Jewison gets this right in his commentary, but the two idiots think it is some sort of addiction by card fanatics "liking the smell". They are wrong on just about everything they see regarding play of 5 card stud and they both give themselves away as unqualified reviewers. A real downer on an otherwise excellent DVD.

One of my all time favorites...Steve McQueen is great in the title role of a man who wants to be the best and the only way he can do it is to beat the best...Edward G Robinson's Lancy Howard. Right up there with Rounders as the best poker movie ever made. Like all great movies the supporting acting is first rate...check out Ann Margaret and Tuesday Weld and the always good Karl Maldin. This is a must see for movie fans.

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The Cincinnati Kid is an excellent movie about a young card player who so desperately wants to beat the best so that he can become "the man." The movie is about the Cincinnati Kid, real name Eric Stoner, a great card player in New Orleans always searching for ways to better himself as a card player. When he finds out that the greatest poker player alive is in town, he must play him to find out if he is the best. This is a very good movie that deals with the desire to be number one at all costs. At times this movie reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode with Jonathan Winters and Jack Klegman. It helps to have some knowledge of poker since the last half of the movie deals with the actual duel between the Kid and Lancey Howard as they knock off their opponents until it is only them. The movie is very exciting especially the build-up to the final game.

Steve McQueen is very believable as the Cincinnati Kid. It is easy to see him get into the role as the young man who so desperately wants to be the best. Edward G. Robinson gives an equally good performance as Lancey Howard, the veteran player who battles the Kid. Ann-Margaret is gorgeous as Melba Williams, a married woman so obviously interested in the Kid. Karl Malden is also great as Shooter Williams, the dealer who is friends with both men involved in the game. The film also stars Rip Torn in a devilish role, Tuesday Weld as McQueen's girlfriend, Christian, Jack Weston, and Cab Calloway. This is a very good movie that deserves a DVD release. For fans of poker and McQueen, check out The Cincinnati Kid!

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Although there are some that will say that this movie is too contrived and predictable, I will say to them that this is a perfect example of good movie making that seems to have slipped away.

You don't have overdone special effects or gratuitous sex and violence, but a very good script with quality actors doing a very good job.

Yes, you have insinuated sex, such as the scene between Ann-Margret and Steve McQueen, but there was absolutely no nudity. Kind of like when radio used to make you use your imagination, whereas television and movies these days seem to resemble "chewing gum for the brain."

I was a young boy when I first saw this moving in 1965, and I never appreciated what a true sex symbol Ann-Margret really was. Man that woman was smoking hot! Tuesday Weld is a really pretty girl in this one too, but the sexy knob is turned down a bit on her for her part.

Do we have the equivelent of Edward G. Robinson today? Yeah, maybe Pacino or DeNiro, but he was in a class of his own. The ever reliable Karl Malden and Rip Torn turn in solid performances job also.

This is a very much worth watching movie. Buy it and wait for a rainy or snowy day. You won't be disappointed.

Want The Cincinnati Kid (2011) Discount?

The Cincinnati kid was (Steve McQueen,) and he was labeled as the best poker player. His aim was to prove it to an older and more experienced poker player;(Edward G. Robinson.) The kid wanted to prove his ability of a good poker player by playing an honest game. I liked the way the film portrays the star's defeat. There's one thing that I couldn't understand about this movie, the setting looked as if it was in the 1920's or 30's; and the character's wardrobe were the style of the 1960's. Confusing as it looked, this was still a pretty good movie; especially for those of you poker players.

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