IMDb > House of Games (1987)
House of Games
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House of Games (1987) More at IMDbPro »

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House of Games (1987) -- 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.

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   7,313 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Mamet
Writers:
Jonathan Katz (story) &
David Mamet (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for House of Games on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 October 1987 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Mystery | Thriller more
Tagline:
Nothing is as it seems. more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
DVD’s I Bought This Week: September 8th
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 8 September 2009, 9:37 AM, PDT)

Redbelt
 (From The AV Club. 1 May 2008, 1:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Treat yourself to this deep movie about a strong woman amongstrong men. more (86 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
102 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Filming Locations:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Company:
Filmhaus more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ricky Jay is a sleight-of-hand artist and an acknowledged authority on the art of the con. In an NPR interview, Jay related that when David Mamet needed a short-change scam to be explained in "House of Games", he asked Jay for details of an authentic short-change hustle. However, Jay did not want to betray the confidence of the hustlers he knew who still used various short-change cons for their "livelihood". The envelope switch you see in the final film is an original switch invented by Ricky Jay specially for the film. Later, it was reported that an amateur thief had been caught attempting to use the switch as he had learned it from the film. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Margaret starts to figure out she's been scammed, she goes to the bar where Mike and the guys hang out. It is pouring rain and she is soaking wet. After she goes in the back door of the bar she is dry. more
Quotes:
Mike: [after being shot] Thank you, sir. May I have another? more
Movie Connections:
References King Kong (1933) more
Soundtrack:
This True Love Stopped For You (But Not For Me) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
24 out of 35 people found the following comment useful.
Treat yourself to this deep movie about a strong woman amongstrong men., 25 May 1999
10/10
Author: SquirePM from Birmingham, Alabama

House of Games is a wonderful movie at multiple levels. It is a fine mystery and a shocking thriller. It is blessed with marvelous performances by Lindsay Crouse and Joe Montegna, and a strong, strong cast of supporting players, and it introduces Ricky Jay, card sharp extraordinaire, prestidigitator and historian of magic. Its dialogue, written by David Mamet, is spoken as if in a play of manners and gives the movie (in which reality is often in question) an extra dimension of unrealness.

On the face of it, House of Games is a convincing glimpse into the unknown world of cheats and con men, diametrically different from The Sting, which was played merely for glamour and yuks. At this level it does succeed admirably.

However, you cannot escape the examination at a deeper level of the odyssey of a woman from complacent professional competence to incredible strength and self realization. The only movie I know of which treats the theme of emergence of personal strength in a woman in as worthy a way is the underrated Private Benjamin. That thoroughly enjoyable movie unfortunately diffuses its focus, hopping among several themes and exploiting the fine performance of Goldie Hawn to chase after some easy laughs. House of Games sticks to its business. As Poe once said of a good short story, it drives relentlessly to its conclusion.

There is another strain of movies-about-women, epitomized by Thelma and Louise, a big budget commercial money maker with the despicable theme that women are doomed, whether or not they realize their inner strengths. What tripe.

As usual you really ought to see this film in a movie theater. It should be a natural for film festivals. Nominate it for one near you if you get the chance.

I bought the original version of House of Games and gave it to my 23 year old daughter. Better she should see it on a TV than not at all.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for House of Games (1987)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Lindsay Crouse---wooden acting or just written that way? tricksoftrade02
Did Margaret clean house? *SPOILERS* LittleJeff
Ending question-spoilers within! blondepittbull
Marine in Western Union Office xraytoken-1
Content ccewilliams
the best con game movies..similiar to this bangaarm
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