THE CINCINNATI KID
US, 1965, 102 minutes, Colour.
Steve Mc Queen, Edward G. Robinson, Karl Malden, Ann- Margret, Tuesday Weld, James Coburn, Rip Torn, Joan Blondell, Cab Calloway, Jeff Corey.
Directed by Norman Jewison.
The Cincinnati Kid is a film for fans of card games, especially poker. Others might find it a bit slow-moving and not appreciate the suspense in the poker faces in big games.
The setting is New Orleans and the film has a very strong cast led by Steve McQueen? and Edward G. Robinson in the confrontations at the card table. Joan Blondell won a best actress award from the National Board of Review and a Golden Globe nomination. Ann-Margret? and Tuesday Weld were glamorous stars in Hollywood at this stage of their careers.
The film was directed by Norman Jewison, the Canadian-born director who worked in television and began making films in 1962 with Forty Pounds of Trouble and other light films. He then moved on to In the Heat of the Night which won the Oscar for best film, followed by The Thomas Crown Affair. By the 1970s he was making big-budget films including Fiddler on the Roof and Jesus Christ Superstar. He continued to direct a great number of films until 2003.
1. The impact of this film for entertainment and interest? Its quality as a gambling obsession film?
2. The importance of the atmosphere of New Orleans? The meticulous detail? During the credits, the funeral, the shoe boy, the streets and their look, the houses and rooms, the gambling, rooms, the trains? how would the film be different if there was not this focus on atmosphere?
3. The contrast of the lyric atmosphere in the country, with the Kid, romance? The smoking room, the gambling, the claustrophobic effect?
4. The films focus on the Kid and audience interest and sympathy? Steve Mc Queen as this character? His hopes, ambitions, depression, desperation, defeat? Was it inevitable that the Kid would lose? When did he have a
chance to win? What could be have done to change things?
5. The film's presentation of gambling in its detail and atmosphere, meaning and effects on people? Gambling as an adventure, risk? The important element being the risk and not the winning? How important was winning? Themes of power because of skill and play? The intensity of the gambling world? The effect on audiences who gamble, who do not gamble?
6. The film’s build-up of the personality of the Kid: picturing him with his abilities, the exploration of his motives, his ambition to be the man, his relationships with the girls, with Christian, Melba? His dependence on Lancy? The comparison with the man?
7. Lancy as 'The Man’? Edward G. Robinson's skill in portraying this kind of gambling winner? His reputation, being at the top for thirty years? The significance of his arrival, his style of personal living and manner? Attention to his beard etc.? His confidence, his dominance of all the people about him, his attitude towards the Kid, surveying him, leading him on? The intensity of portrayal during the playing? The significance of his winning?
8. The contrast with Shooter and his role in the gambling world? Shooter's character, his interest in gambling, enjoyment of people, his basic honesty? As a patron for the Kid? His relationship with Slade, his being dominated and pressurized? His betraying his honesty? The impact in the game And his being changed? As an image of the Kid, a loser?
9. The portrayal of Slade as the ugly aspect of this gambling world? Slade as a person, his dominance, his wanting to win, his dishonesty? The comment on this kind of dishonesty with the professional players?
10. The lighter atmosphere of gambling through the character of Ladyfingers? Her style, friendship, lightheartedness, her presence in the game at the end?
11. Christian and her world? So different from the gambling? Kid as moving from Christian back to gambling? The qualities of Christian’s character, her love for the Kid, the sequences in the country? Her friendship with Melba? The detail of going to the French film, shopping? Her ingenuous nature and her final support of the Kid? How attractive a character, necessary for this kind of film?
12. The contrast between Christian and Melba? Melba as the city type, invading Christian's world, trying to hold the Kid? Melba as a loser?
13. The contribution of the minor characters? The detailed portrayals, their place in the atmosphere of New Orleans and gambling?
14. Comment on the film's attention to detail of place and characters in their place, the details of the game?
15. The audience's emotional response at the end? The satisfaction of Lancy? Kid? Would he then try to win in the future? How much insight in this kind of film?
