The Gambler (1974)

Director:

Karel Reisz

Writer:

James Toback (writer)

Release Date:

October 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

For $10,000 they break your arms. For $20,000 they break your legs. Axel Freed owes $44,000.

Plot:

Alex Freed is a literature professor. He has the gambling vice. When he has lost all his money, he borrows from his girlfriend...

Plot Keywords:

Compulsive Gambler | Casino | Gambling | Jew | Mafia

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

James Caan	...	Axel Freed
Paul Sorvino	...	Hips
Lauren Hutton	...	Billie
Morris Carnovsky	...	A. R. Lowenthal
Jacqueline Brookes	...	Naomi Freed
Burt Young	...	Carmine
Carmine Caridi	...	Jimmy
Vic Tayback	...	One
Steven Keats	...	Howie
London Lee	...	Monkey
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Las Vegas gambler
James Woods	...	Bank officer
Carl W. Crudup	...	Spencer
Allan Rich	...	Bernie
Stuart Margolin	...	Cowboy
Ric Mancini	...	Sal
Joel Wolfe	...	Moe
Raymond Serra	...	Benny
William Andrews	...	Coach
Joseph Attles	...	Singer in park
Antonio Fargas	...	Pimp
Ernest Butler	...	Vernon
Sully Boyar	...	Uncle Hy
Gregory Rozakis	...	Joe
Starletta DuPois	...	Monique
Lucille Patton	...	Ricky's wife
Ed Kovens	...	Ricky
Baron Wilson	...	Basketball janitor
Richard Foronjy	...	Donny
Frank Sivero	...	Donny's driver
Frank Scioscia	...	Donny's friend in park
Philip Sterling	...	Sidney
Patricia Fay	...	Bank teller
Beatrice Winde	...	Hospital receptionist
Leon Pinkney	...	Street basketball boy
Alisha Fontaine	...	Howie's girl
Presley Caton	...	Monkey's girl
Mitch Stein	...	College announcer
Jonathan Kushner	...	College announcer (as Jonathan Koshner)
Charles Polk	...	Harlem bartender
Dick Schaap	...	TV announcer
Chick Hearn	...	Radio announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Street basketball boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Karel Reisz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Toback		writer

Produced by
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Irwin Winkler	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Fielding

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Roger Spottiswoode

Casting by
Cis Corman

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Art Direction by
Philip Rosenberg

Set Decoration by
Edward Stewart

Costume Design by
Albert Wolsky

Makeup Department
William A. Farley	....	hair stylist
Robert Laden	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Hal W. Polaire	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thomas Lofaro	....	second assistant director
Bruce S. Pustin	....	trainee assistant director
Ted Zachary	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Connie Brink	....	stand-by props
George Maxfield	....	construction group
Eugene Powell	....	scenic artist (as Gene Powell)
Jules Wollock	....	head carpenter

Sound Department
Derek Holding	....	dialogue editor
Dennis Maitland	....	sound mixer
Terry Rawlings	....	sound editor
Doug E. Turner	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Nickerson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Brown	....	first assistant camera
James Finnerty	....	key grip
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer: special assignment
Leo Lebowitz	....	camera operator
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer
Algernon Ramirez	....	second assistant camera
Jack Stager	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman	....	wardrobe: men
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Sue Kingsley	....	assistant editor
Jim Rivera	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Ronnie Caan	....	assistant to producer
Barbara De Fina	....	production coordinator
Tom O'Brien	....	teamster captain
Julia Tucker	....	script supervisor
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Chartoff-Winkler Productions
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

111 min | Finland:106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Quotes:

Hips: The only thing that's standing between your skull and a baseball bat is my word.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Ties: The Gambler (#2.23)" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 1

Gritty and Sophisticated

James Caan plays a gambler. Not just a gambler for money; a gambler with life itself. The film does a good job explaining the motivation and complexity of this character. Although I expected the movie to be about casino gambling, and dealing with loan sharks, it was much more than that. The film even explores the main character's relationship with his family, his wife, and even his job. There are some dated production values, but the pacing and tension is good, and Caan's character is highly sympathetic, because you understand the protagonist's plight is not man vs man, but man vs himself. You care what happens to him, and the film slowly reveals his thinking. Lauren Hutton and Paul Sorvino also star.