The Cincinnati Kid
Directed by Norman Jewison
Written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Terry Southern from a novel by Richard Jessup
1965/USA
Filmways Pictures/Solar Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Slade: How the hell did you know I didn’t have the king or the ace?
Lancey Howard: I recollect a young man putting the same question to Eddie the Dude. “Son,” Eddie told him, “all you paid was the looking price. Lessons are extra.”[/box]
You could think of this as a kind of second-rate version of The Hustler or as a pretty good Steve McQueen vehicle. Your choice.
The Cincinnati Kid (McQueen) is an up-an-coming poker wizard in New Orleans, where he lives with girlfriend Christian (Tuesday Weld). His best friend is Shooter (Karl Malden) who is married to wildcat Melba (Ann Margret). Melba has her eye on the Kid while Christian is yearning for a wedding ring.
Fabled master poker player Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson) – AKA “The Man” – comes into town looking for action. The Kid can’t wait to take him on. The last part of the film is occupied with the game. With Joan Blondell as a dealer, Rip Torn as a mean gambler, and Jack Weston and Cab Calloway as players.
This is quite OK for what it is. The ladies really sizzle and the supporting cast shines. McQueen is super-cool as ever but there’s really not much meat in his part.
