The Gambler (1974)

The Gambler is one of the edgier and more interesting, if forgotten, films of the mid-1970s, the kind of studio film that rarely gets made anymore. Based on a screenplay by James Toback (Two Girls and a Guy) and directed by Karel Reisz, the film stars James Caan as a brilliant college literature professor with the same weakness as one of Dostoevsky's characters: He can't resist a wager. Indeed, he's in so deep that even his seemingly good-hearted bookie (Paul Sorvino) is trying to kill him. So he lams out of New York and heads for Las Vegas--where he wins back everything he's lost so he can pay off his massive debts. But is he smart enough to take his winnings and walk away? Caan captures the aggressive compulsiveness of the gambling addict, the strange split between a seemingly intelligent man and an uncontrollably stupid impulse. The film includes early film performances by James Woods and Lauren Hutton. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com essential video

One of James Caan's best performances!

Yes, indeed: I agree that the overlooked gem THE GAMBLER is well worth your time. It's one of James Caan's very best performances, and the best look at what makes up a gambling addiction ever put on screen. Karel Reisz, director of MORGAN! and THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, gets right to the grit of the street, which is where Axel is truly at home. Oddly enough, the character which feels the most for the downwardly spiraling English professor (aside from his mother) is his first bookie, Hips, played by the wonderful Paul Sorvino. Hips tries to get Axel out of his self-destructive whirlpool, but in a telling scene, comes to know that Axel is well aware of where he is going. Like Nicolas Cage in LEAVING LAS VEGAS, Axel sees his future clearly. And in the final shot, we, the audience, know absolutely that Axel understands his future, and is in love with its resolution.

The outstanding cast includes many familiar faces, some in their earliest roles: James Woods, M. Emmet Walsh, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Jacqueline Brooks (in a beautiful performance as Axel's mother), Vic Tayback, Steven Keats, Allan Rich, Stuart Margolin, Sully Boyar, Burt Young (who is the nicest leg breaker you'll ever meet), and Antonio Fargas.

The razor-sharp editing is by future film director Roger Spottiswoode, and the producers, Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler (THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?, ROCKY, NEW YORK NEW YORK, THE RIGHT STUFF, RAGING BULL, GOODFELLAS and many others) are at the top of their game (no pun intended) with THE GAMBLER. This story must have meant a lot to them.

As to the DVD transfer itself: we get THE GAMBLER in its original 1:85 letterboxed aspect ratio, colors balanced, just a tad grainy (but that is, I think, in the original print). The sound is not quite as sharp and clear as a post-2000 film, but quite listenable (especially on headphones). It sounds as though Reisz went for as much live-miking as possible, trying to stay away from post-production looping (there are a few spots where looping is evident). No trailer or other special features.

Unfortunately overlooked in its 1974 release, and now out of print on DVD, catch THE GAMBLER. It's a sure bet.

September 27, 2008

When hopelessly addicted to all kinds of bets

THE GAMBLER (1974), is a passive, visual movie, with the one and
only James Caan, who plays an English Literature professor, who
comes to believe as reality the poetry, artistic thoughts and
beliefs he teaches to his classroom of students. The theory is that
2+2 is not 4, it's more than that, and life shouldn't be spent
counting the minutes, hours down, but rather pushing the envelope,
taking risks and enjoying the ride, the thrills while it lasts.

As such, Caan's character "in theory" realizes he's a compulsive
gambler, hopelessly addicted to all kinds of bets on all kinds of
activities, his life hanging by a thread, and jeopardizing not only
the love, respect of his family and girlfriend, but their
psychological and physical well-being through a wreckless behavior
that sees him lose thousands of dollars. The difficulty for Caan, is
accepting his "theoretical addition" as "reality" and as a
"objective, externally verifiable and observable fact".

Clearly, Caan is at his peak, physically and mentally. The actor
shows his characteristic relaxed, subtle, self-contented, easy going
and confident demeanor, until unique circumstances occur, requiring
agression, physical exertion, which he delivers when called on.

The film prominently features a Ford Mustang convertible in over 1/3
of the film.

The whole gamut of individuals implicated in gambling as an industry
is shown, from collectors of illegal debts, to loan sharks (at 3%
per week or 12O% annual interest), casinos, bookies, pimps,
narco-traffickers, etc.

Caan reflects on his inability to face or control his gambling
addiction, with words such as " I can't lose. Why? I'm hot as a
pistol, and I am the one placing the bets!"

There are a number of smart quips, such as "I've seen nuts before,
but you've got a watermelon" as scruples; or Caan's Dad, commenting
on his girlfriend: "a man of virtue and character would not take
that woman as your wife, she's a playboy's girl".

In his subconscience, apart from the compulsion, Caan perhaps feels
that those who lack all addictions in their personalities are
boring, unpopular, don't know how to enjoy themselves, or so goes
the poetry he reads, taking what was imaginary as reality, and
dropping into an abyss of debt, addiction, low self-worth,
irrationality, confusion, loss of direction, suicidal behavior.

Some curious aspects are typical from the 7O's, namely sideburns,
large US cars, and the courtesy, politeness and amicable human
interaction between strangers in restaurants, at the table, etc,
which seems to have been lost 30 years later, too often, at least in
the movies.

Sorvino plays a mobster, involved in the bookie and loan sharking
activities, with a modicum of patience and humanity with the
debtors.

The soundtrack is adequate and low profile. June 25, 2007

A proper film

This is a very good film.
After watching it you have to pause and think about what you have seen, and let the impact sink in.
Well acted, well casted, well scripted, well shot, pacy and with a good story that is hard to predict.
It highlights the degeneracy that can affect those born into money, the grandchildren of the penniless hardworking immigrants who passed through Ellis Island and made good in the Golden Land. April 22, 2007

james caan itself

james caan has play the character very well and is in the centre of the movie.The ups and downs are the gamblers live,but the lesson is dont play with the mafia and dont play with what you love at most. April 11, 2007

Authentic Portrayal of addictive gambling

This film shows the mentality and thought process of someone who is a gambling addict. The lengths that James Caan goes to keep playing even though his ability to pick winners has eroded and the affect it has on those in his life is right on the mark. The movie accurately shows how the glamour of winning becomes secondary to the need just to have the risk and unflinchingly shows what can happen if you get caught in this complusive trap. It is a scenario I know about from first hand experience August 27, 2006

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