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   7,311 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% 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
Plot Keywords:
more
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:
The opening Bach selection sets the tone for this spiky film more (86 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
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
Scott Zigler ... Western Union clerk

William H. Macy ... Sgt. Moran (as W.H. Macy)

John Pritchett ... Hotel desk clerk
Meshach Taylor ... Mr. Dean
Johnny 'Sugarbear' Willis ... Hotel doorman (as Sugarbear Willis)
Josh Conescu ... Garage attendant
Julie Mendenhall ... Late student
Rachel Cline ... Student
Patricia Wolff ... Patient / Ford's office
Paul Walsh ... Man in restaurant
Roberta Maguire ... Restaurant hostess
Jacqueline de La Chaume ... Woman with lighter
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Directed by
David Mamet 
 
Writing credits
Jonathan Katz (story) &
David Mamet (story)

David Mamet (screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Hausman .... producer
 
Original Music by
Alaric Jans 
 
Cinematography by
Juan Ruiz Anchía 
 
Film Editing by
Trudy Ship 
 
Casting by
Cyrena Hausman 
 
Production Design by
Michael Merritt 
 
Set Decoration by
Derek R. Hill  (as Derek Hill)
 
Costume Design by
Nan Cibula 
 
Makeup Department
Laurent Delouya .... hair stylist: Mr. Mantegna
Erin Lyons .... hair stylist
Gregory Villamil .... hair stylist: Miss Crouse
Pamela S. Westmore .... makeup artist (as Pamela Westmore)
 
Production Management
Lee R. Mayes .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ned Dowd .... first assistant director
Michael Hausman .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Jeff Balsmeyer .... storyboard artist (as Jeffrey Balsmeyer)
Valerie Ross .... property assistant
Samara Schaffer .... property master
J. Grey Smith .... lead man
Jeffrey P. Soderberg .... set dresser (as Jeff Soderberg)
 
Sound Department
Douglas Axtell .... boom operator
Suki Buchman .... assistant sound editor (as Susan Buchman)
Anthony J. Ciccolini III .... supervising sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo .... foley artist
Pam DeMetruis-Thomas .... assistant sound editor (as Pam DeMetruis)
Kathleen Earle Killeen .... assistant sound editor (as Kathy Killeen)
Thomas A. Gulino .... sound editor
John Pritchett .... sound mixer
John Pritchett .... sound
Marc S. Shaw .... adr editor
Gail Showalter .... assistant sound editor
Jeffrey Stern .... sound editor
Jacqueline Tager .... assistant sound editor (as Jacqui Tager)
Dick Vorisek .... sound re-recording supervisor
 
Special Effects by
Robert G. Willard .... special effects (as Robert Willard)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Michael F. Barrow .... gaffer (as Michael Barrow)
Michael F. Barrow .... grip equipment
Michael F. Barrow .... lighting equipment
Martin Bosworth .... grip (as Marty Bosworth)
Chris Centrella .... key dolly grip
Henry Cline .... second assistant camera
Geoffrey Coburn .... electrician
Robert Diehl .... electrician
Bill Flick .... grip
Lars Larson .... grip
Mark Lorge .... electrician
Hugh McCallum .... best boy grip
Robert McClure .... electrician
John Merriman .... best boy electric
George Mooradian .... first assistant camera
Lorey Sebastian .... still photographer
Michael Sudmeier .... electrician
Greg White-Wiegand .... electrician
Quintin Woo .... electrician
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Candace Blake .... wardrobe assistant
Dawn Johnson .... costumer
Sally Roberts .... wardrobe assistant
Sally Roberts .... assistant costume designer (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Peter B. Ellis .... apprentice editor
K.F. Ligammari .... apprentice editor
Colleen Sharp .... apprentice editor
Barbara Tulliver .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Warren Bernhardt .... musician: piano solom, "Fugue From the Toccata in C Minor"
Suzana Peric .... music editor
 
Transportation Department
Gregory W. Anderson .... driver (as Gregory Anderson)
Jerry Jackson .... transportation coordinator
Jon McCarthy .... driver (as Jon R. McCarthy)
David Milchen .... driver captain
 
Other crew
Alexa Albert .... production assistant
Rachel Cline .... assistant to producer
Liz Dixon .... coach
Liz Dixon .... consultant
Peter Hutcheson .... production assistant
Kevin Hyman .... production accountant
Ricky Jay .... consultant: confidence games
Richard Lorenzana .... financial representative
Ron Lynch .... location manager
Susan McBrine .... caterer (as Susan MacBrine)
Ivan Passer Jr. .... production assistant
P.J. Pettiette .... dailies courier
Deborah Pritchett .... production office coordinator
Cathy Sarkowsky .... production office coordinator
Sheila Thompson .... craft service
Lynn Wegenka .... key production assistant
Christine Wilson .... script supervisor
Patricia Wolff .... production assistant
Scott Zigler .... production assistant
Randall Balsmeyer .... title designer (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
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 more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to Mamet, despite the excellent reviews the film received in a limited showing in four theaters, Orion decided against spending the money for the prints and publicity that would have accompanied a general release and sent the film almost directly to TV and video. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Near the end of the film, at the end of the airport baggage area scene viewing Mike and Margaret from above a ventilation duct, Margaret's travel bag is visible on the far left exactly parallel with the edge of the conveyor belt upon which it's placed. But in the next shot from the same view, the bag is at a 45-degree angle from its original position. more
Quotes:
Mike: You say I acted atrociously. Yes. I did. I do it for a living. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Shade (2003/I) more
Soundtrack:
This True Love Stopped For You (But Not For Me) more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
The opening Bach selection sets the tone for this spiky film, 10 March 2009
10/10
Author: thepooles-1 from Ardmore, PA

Opening the film with a Bach Toccata is an aural hint of what is to unfold in this intense drama. All the compositional devices Bach perfected to keep his listener (and the performer) intrigued and entertained applies to this film. There isn't a mutual tenderness between the two lead characters and the lead female in the final scene I feel is justified in stating she was raped even though her victimizer feels she was forewarned that he was a cad. Mamet compellingly explores the emotional chasm and differences between the genders but I feel he is clueless about how they actually compliment one another given a healthy sense of humor. If Mamet ever developed a healthy humorous take on the interaction between the genders I wonder how this work would have ended? As it exists it is very somber and mean spirited.

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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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