'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie' (1976)īellin, indeed, knows all too well what it's like to be 'gutted on the river' (ruined by the last card dealt in a poker game). 'A Big Hand for the Little Lady' (1966) Other notable movies about poker players, con artists and gamblers: 'The characters were written with such depth and appeal that you were fascinated by every move they made,' Bellin says. The latter two both star Paul Newman.īut his favorite movie about hustlers - if not about poker - is 'The Grifters' (1990), Stephen Frears' dark drama about con artists starring John Cusack, Angelica Huston, and Annette Bening. Robinson as the veteran champ Lancey Howard.īellin didn't think much of 'Rounders' (1998) - 'so short of anything interesting other than the poker I thought it was hard to watch' - but loves 'The Sting' (1973) and the billiards-oriented 'The Hustler' (1961). His favorite: 'The Cincinnati Kid' (1965), with Steve McQueen as an up-and-coming player and Edward G.
'It seems all the great gambling movies use gambling to propel another storyline,' Andy Bellin says.
