The Cincinnati Kid poster

1965·102 min·Released

The Cincinnati Kid

“He'd take on anyone, at anything, anytime.”

Drama

An up-and-coming poker player tries to prove himself in a high-stakes match against a long-time master of the game.

7.0(308 votes)

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Cast & Crew

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen

Eric Stoner ("The Cincinnati Kid")

Edward G. Robinson

Edward G. Robinson

Lancey Howard

Ann-Margret

Ann-Margret

Melba Nile

Karl Malden

Karl Malden

Shooter

Tuesday Weld

Tuesday Weld

Christian Rudd

Joan Blondell

Joan Blondell

Lady Fingers

Rip Torn

Rip Torn

William Jefferson Slade

Jack Weston

Jack Weston

Pig

Cab Calloway

Cab Calloway

Yeller

Jeff Corey

Jeff Corey

Hoban

Theo Marcuse

Theo Marcuse

Felix

Milton Selzer

Milton Selzer

Sokal

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John Chard

Written on 10/4/2015

People will sit down at the table with you, just so they can say they played with The Man Blah blah blah is the feelings I get when I see comments about this being McQueen's answer to The Hustler, the Newman film is firmly ensconced in the hall of classics and rightly so, but this is a different animal that stands up on its own two feet as a great film regardless of comparisons of leading men or films they respectively delivered. "It's a pleasure to meet someone who understands that to the true gambler, money is never an end in itself, it's simply a tool, as a language is to thought" Steve McQueen is The Cincinnati Kid of the title, a young man who has an enviable reputation as the pretender to the throne of the king stud poker player. Standing in his way of claiming the crown is the holder of said crown, Lancey "The Man" Howard (a wonderfully sedate yet dominant Edward G. Robinson), both men are in New Orleans for the big showdown across the card table. The film does suffer slightly from a meandering script, though, because you can't help feeling that there is so much more to these characters that needed fleshing out before the big tense showdown arises. However, the cast and director manage to stere the film home with a glorious final third. Suspense and drama start to boil to the surface, the tight knit editing bringing claustrophobic clarity to the enormity of the game. McQueen is perfect here, cocky and cool in equal measure, yet still infusing the role with stoic heart and honest endearment. Tuesday Weld & Ann-Margret are playing second fiddle in the acting stakes to a delightful turn from Joan Blondell (a little under used though), but both Weld and Margret bring their respective girls' traits to life, with Margret positively smouldering with femme fatale sex appeal. Karl Malden is solid and safe, whilst Rip Torn gives an acting lesson in dialogue driven menace. Yet in all honesty it's director Norman Jewison who has the trump card here. Once the game commences, even those who know nothing about a good game of poker are firmly watching every frame, such is the intense way that Jewison has brought the finale together. No cop outs here, a film about egos, ambitions and personal satisfaction is gloriously laid out for a very enjoyable viewing experience. 8/10

Media

Give Me The Money

Give Me The Money

Trailer

Trailer