House of Games (1987)

Director:

David Mamet

Writers:

Jonathan Katz (story) &
David Mamet (story) ...

Release Date:

11 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Nothing is as it seems.

Plot:

A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led my a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.

Plot Keywords:

Psychiatrist | Grifter | Con | Poker | Compulsive Gambler

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Lindsay Crouse	...	Margaret Ford
Joe Mantegna	...	Mike
Mike Nussbaum	...	Joey
Lilia Skala	...	Dr. Maria Littauer
J.T. Walsh	...	The businessman
Willo Hausman	...	Girl with book
Karen Kohlhaas	...	Prison ward patient
Steven Goldstein	...	Billy Hahn
Jack Wallace	...	Bartender, House of Games
Ricky Jay	...	George / Vegas Man
G. Roy Levin	...	Poker player
Bob Lumbra	...	Poker player
Andy Potok	...	Poker player
Allen Soule	...	Poker player
Ben Blakeman	...	Bartender, Charlie's Tavern

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Finland:K-14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #28269) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

Filmhaus

Trivia:

The red and white Cadillac convertible used by the con artists in this film also appears in the car dealer's showcase room in David Mamet's The Spanish Prisoner (1997)

Goofs:

Continuity: Margaret asks the House of Games's barman to call Mike out. Then he enters in the game room and closes the door. We don't see him comes back. So Mike opens the door and comes to talk her. During the conversation we don't see the barman behind the counter. But after Mike went to the game room, the barman appears behind the counter.

Quotes:

Mike: What I'm talking about comes down to a more basic philosophial principle: Don't trust nobody.

Movie Connections:

References Meteor (1979)

Soundtrack:

Fugue from the Toccata in C Minor

The art of the grift exposed

HOUSE OF GAMES is one of those David mamet films I see and I sit in the theatre and say to myself I wish I could write like that. He uses hustles and con artists as a backdrop on the art of the lie and theft. lie the person who blows you a kiss and tells you they love you and behind your back is plotting your destruction. The film stars JOE MANTEGA and LINSAY CROUSE as hustlers trying to eek out a dishonest buck, Mantenga teachers Crouse the art of the grift, or the quick buck lie. The film uses a noir art house look which is refreshing. I haven't seen a good movie in a longtime. I remember ones like this and I smile, at least this was worth the price of admission as something enjoyable. There are very few films I go see now, most are pre-packaged teen skewing crap. (To each their own)I still find jewels in foreign cinema and tv. I keep hoping for a beakthrough. This film will not appeal to everyone but has a quality to it in prose and style and characterization lacking from most movies.