MONEY PLAYS
US, 1995, 92 minutes, Colour.
Roy Scheider, Sonia Braga, Elizabeth Lund, Jon Polito.
Directed by Frank D. Gilroy.
Money Plays is a film about gambling, a Vietnam veteran who is widowed, gambling his money away. A prostitute who has a client die, carrying over half a million dollars, approaches him to gamble the money for her so that she can keep the winnings and repay the money to those who come after it. It works - but those who come after want all the money.
The film has a Las Vegas setting, shows us the insides of the casinos, shows us the gangsters and the ruthlessness associated with gambling. The film was written and directed by Frank D. Gilroy, best known for his play The Subject Was Roses, filmed in 1968. He wrote the screenplay for another film about gambling, George Stevens' The Only Game In Town (1970) with Elizabeth Taylor and Warren Beatty. He wrote and directed some other films including the Charles Bronson vehicle, From Noon Till Three.
1. The popularity of gambling films? Casinos, glamour, money, the risk, the adrenalin? Winning and losing?
2. The Las Vegas settings, the casinos, apartments, the desert? Musical score?
3. The title, gambling, easy profit? The consequences, the loss of money?
4. Johnny and his life at the casinos, his friends, the syndicate? Working together? Going to see his daughter, his care for her, memory of her mother? The memories of Vietnam? Being approached by Irene, the discussions about the plan, his hesitation, finally deciding? The plan, the clothes, his being a Texan, her laughing at him? His accent? The phone calls, his success? Bringing the money? His relationship with Irene, Stacey seeing it and approving? The giving back of the money?
5. The opening, the counting of the money, the pizza deliverer, shooting and taking the money? The man in the taxi, getting the recommendation to Irene from the taxi driver, his dying? Her taking the money, her plan? Her approaching Johnny, her persuasiveness, demands? The contacts? The relationship, getting on well with Stacey, the outings together? Her being accosted, her driving away, past the train? Telling the men that the money was available? Their suspicions, going to the trunk of the car for the jack, getting all the money? Phoning Johnny and his coming?
6. The men, the pressure tactics on their contact, the threat of torture, his going with them, giving the information about Irene? The car driving, crashing, in flames? The money being burnt and scattered?
7. Johnny and Irene, getting $20,000, neither of them wanting the money - going to the casino, the lucky streak? Her stopping on time? Sufficient for the future - the wedding, Stacey? The happy ending?
8. The risks for gambling, the attraction of money, dangers - and the exhilaration of winning?
