The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

Although it was made 40 years ago, many people - online casino fans among them - would say that The Cincinnati Kid is the ultimate poker movie, and possibly the ultimate gambling movie. On one level it's about a cocky, up-and-coming player who takes on a master of the art of stud poker. On another, if you were going to get deep and meaningful, you could say it's about what happens when youth and relative innocence meets real experience.

So What's The Plot In a Nutshell?

A young, handsome and very cool Steve McQueen is The Kid - a talented gambler who wants to prove himself to be the greatest stud poker player of all time. When Edward G Robinson, playing Lancey Howard, The Man, comes to New Orleans to play a private game, The Kid sees his chance and offers to take him on. But things are complicated.

Two women are vying for The Kid's affections - Ann-Margret, wife of fellow player Shooter, and the wholesome Tuesday Weld. What's more, there are dirty dealings afoot, with player William Jefferson Slade (Rip Torn) pressurising dealer Shooter (Karl Malden) to throw the game in favour of The Kid. A nail-biting, climactic game has to be played to decide the real king of the green felt. Will The Man have to hand over his crown at last?

So It's A Bit Like...

The Cincinnati Kid was seen as the poker answer to the pool-hall classic The Hustler (1961) staring Paul Newman. He and McQueen were rival stars at the time. It's also seen as something of an inspiration for the 1998 poker movie Rounders. A great deal of The Cincinnati Kid is actually taken up with poker, and opinions vary over how realistically the game is portrayed, particularly the final hand.

So Who Are The Stand-Out Stars?

One of the fantastic things about The Cincinnati Kid is its cast, which includes super-sexy Ann-Margret and Tuesday Weld, not to mention the powerful, complex presence of Edward G Robinson, who considered the role one of the best performances of his career. His elegant self-containment is contrasted with McQueen's cocksure confidence. Joan Blondell plays a memorable early female poker role model, the dealer Lady Fingers.

Most Memorable Line

Lancey Howard: "Gets down to what it's all about, doesn't it? Making the wrong move at the right time."

The Kid: "Is that what it's all about?"

Lancey Howard: "Like life, I guess."

About The Director - Norman Jewison

The Cincinnati Kid was originally supposed to be directed by Sam Peckinpah, but Jewison took over just after shooting began. The movie became one of a string of hits for Jewison, along with The Thomas Crown Affair, In the Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof, Rollerball and A Soldier's Story.