Mjeteconer Just perfect...

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Scott LeBrun Cooler than thou movie star Steve McQueen is an engaging protagonist in this adaptation of the Richard Jessup novel, scripted by Ring Lardner, Jr. ("MASH") and Terry Southern. McQueen is the title character, an up and coming poker player who yearns to hit the big time. He gets his chance when he is allowed to play reigning champion Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson). Although an attempt is made to influence the outcome of the game, The Kid opts to play honestly, confident in his ability.Poker isn't really the most cinematic of professions, but director Norman Jewison ("In the Heat of the Night") does manage to make it visually interesting at times. While those not familiar with all the lingo and nuances of the profession may potentially get lost, there is still some tension to enjoy. The atmosphere, and portrayal of this milieu is vivid, and convincing. The jazzy score by Lalo Schifrin adds flavor, as does the theme song belted out by Ray Charles. On location shooting in New Orleans also adds a lot to the presentation.McQueen is extremely well supported by an eclectic bunch of players. Eddie G. is wonderful as the relaxed old pro, an intelligent and articulate man who acknowledges that this upstart kid just might have what it takes to knock him off his throne. Ann-Margret and Tuesday Weld are both incredibly sexy and appealing. Karl Malden, Joan Blondell, Rip Torn, Jack Weston, and singer Cab Calloway are all excellent, and there's a rich parade of character actor talent to boot: Jeff Corey, Milton Selzer, Karl Swenson, Ron Soble, Dub Taylor, Robert DoQui, Burt Mustin, etc.The picture was begun by Sam Peckinpah, only for him to get fired and replaced by Jewison.Seven out of 10.

BoomerDT Somewhere I read that at the heart of it, deep down in their souls, all hard core gamblers really want to lose…that they enjoy the pain and angst. Personally, I think that's complete bullshit. But "The Cincinnati Kid" is a profile of a stud playing expert, one Eric Stoner, played by Steve McQueen in one of his most memorable roles. By 1965 McQueen had become a screen superstar, following the release of "The Great Escape" in 63 and he would have about a 10 year run of top notch dramatic classics that would also include "Nevada Smith" "The Sand Pebbles" "Bullitt" and "Papillion" among some other solid offerings. In TCK McQueen is paired with screen legend Edward G. Robinson, who is brilliant as "the Man" Lancey Howard, regarded as the top stud poker player of his era. Their characters are similar to their real life personas…McQueen, like the Kid was an up and coming superstar while Robinson, like Lancey was now entering the twilight of a brilliant career, but not ready to step aside yet.TCK has a superb cast. Karl Malden is Shooter, the Kids mentor and seemingly only real friend. Ann Margaret plays his incredibly hot wife Melba, a complete slut and gold digger. She's one of those women men can't resist, even though they know she will only cause trouble and Ann is at her absolute sexiest in this role. Tuesday Weld turns in a surprisingly strong performance as the Kid's girlfriend Christian, who has moved to New Orleans from a farm in rural La. She and McQueen are in love but they both know that his top priority in life is stud poker. Speaking of which, the marathon poker game which is at the heart of this movie is done superbly. Also credit director Norman Jewison for keeping this moving at a steady clip, 102 minutes. I could easily see where other directors could have stretched this out to well over 2 hours, give us a lot of back story about McQueen's character. But we get virtually none-the Kid really had nothing except his ability to play poker. Whether he and Christian have any future together after the game is left for the audience to speculate.

Robert J. Maxwell A remarkably effective film was released in the early 60s. A young hot shot gambler with a cute nickname arrives in town to challenge the reigning king of the game, an older professional with another nickname. Before the final combat, we get to know the youngster's back story, his skill at the game, his growing reputation, his love life, and the weaknesses in his character, such as his infidelity to friends. The story is original and packs a hell of a wallop.The name of the movie is "The Hustler." It stars Paul Newman as Fast Eddie and Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats. "The Cincinatti Kid" is an etiolated imitation -- not bad, just not innovative and not nearly as neatly drawn as its model.Here, Steve McQueen, the quintessence of cool, is The Cincinatti Kid, challenger, and Edward G. Robinson is Lancey Howard, the shrewdly bearded ice sculpture who knows all the tricks. I guess, when you think about it, "Lancy" isn't much of a nickname. I shouldn't have said the king had a nickname. However, as if to make up for Robinson's lack of a street moniker -- although, to be sure, "Lancey", although a genuine name, is far from prosaic -- all the other main characters seem to sport them. Let's see. Karl Malden is Shooter, Joan Blondell is Ladyfingers, Jack Weston is Pig, and I think there were a few others. Yes, former orchestra leader and performance artist Cab Calloway is Yeller, and he's terrific as one of the gamesters. He doesn't look nearly as old as he ought to."The Cincinnati Kid" follows the basic plot trajectory of "The Hustler" but is set in the not-too-distant past and, lamentably, doesn't really capture the genius loci. It's identifiably New Orleans of the 1930s. If we didn't already know it, we'd figure it out from the amiable pop tunes that we hear in the background. "The Hustler" gave us a more accessible crummy New York City of the late 50s. The settings weren't merely atmospheric, as here. We got to know them on a first-name basis: Piper Laurie's shabby apartment; the depressing, vacant early-morning Greyhound bus station; the unashamed bars with names like "Cavanaugh's" and "Corcoran's" and "The Pine Tavern"; and, most of all, the vast and magnificently threadbare pool room where Newman and Gleason play pool for money and sovereignty."Shoot pool, Fast Eddy," says Minnesota Fats. "Let's play stud poker," says Lancey Howard.The settings for the final confrontation are similar. The two champs go at it, surrounded by a dozen enthralled onlookers, many of them trading bets. But as a game, pool beats poker. Poker is a game that blends luck and strategy. Pool combines a bit of strategy with a lot of physical skill -- and physical skill involves action. Visually it's much more interesting to see pool balls zipping and clacking around on the table. The contestants can talk, trade remarks, insult or compliment each other. In poker, the point is to say and do nothing that would give away your hand or your intentions, and with McQueen on one side of the table and the stone-faced Robinson on the other, we're reduced to hearing one or another party say something like, "Okay, you take it." Or "Jack to the tens." On top of that, in "The Cincinnati Kid" the poor onlookers have no reason to applaud a particularly skillful move, as they did in "The Hustler," and they are also compelled to explain to the audience in whispers just what's going on at the card table. ("He's going for the flush. He's going for the FLUSH.") It all comes out a little amateurish.It isn't a terrible film when considered by itself. The performances are up to snuff -- although "The Hustler" contains what is certainly one of Paul Newman's best -- and Edward G. Robinson is fine, as are Ann-Margaret and Tuesday Weld, in an entirely different way. Weld is stuck in the role of the Good Girl Who Waits, while Ann-Margaret is given a Southern accent and a bosom that, if ever released, would devastate the countryside.

lombardo42 Steve McQueen plays the title role of the Cincinnati Kid; a young, up-and-coming poker player. The backdrop of the movie is 1930's New Orleans where we are introduced to Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson), a famous master of the game and the best player in the country. Lancey is back in town and by word of mouth a game is quickly arranged for the two pro's. Kid's colleague Shooter (Karl Malden) is appointed the trusted dealer, but after an exclusive meeting with a head honcho named Slade (Rip Torn), Shooter is put into a corner and is forced to rig the game.Meanwhile, when Kid's girl Christian (Tuesday Weld) is out of town visiting her parents, he begins an unsteady relationship with Melba Nile, played by the beautiful Ann-Margret. Joan Blondell rounds out this great assemble as Lady Fingers, a respected card dealer and old friend of Lancey Howard."The Cincinnati Kid" is a pretty entertaining movie. Although I don't know anything about the rules of poker, and not absolutely certain if it's imperative for the audience to have a thorough knowledge on, director Norman Jewison is a great substitute for Sam Peckinpah, who was originally slated to direct. Jewison's direction during the showdown between the Kid and the Man is very well done, creating suspense by the clean and natural turn of a card. The soundtrack is also really good here with Lalo Schifrin as the composer. Many viewers have already began to compare this movie with "The Hustler", the classic film about poolsharks made famous by Paul Newman just a few years before. "The Cincinnati Kid" could very well have been made to piggyback that highly acclaimed film.