TQS StaffIn recent years we have seen a remarkable rise in the popularity of poker, largely owing to the birth of poker online. But what of the past? Poker has been popular for generations, with many films being made on the subject. Below are the best poker movies of all time – well worth a look if you are into your poker (IMHO):
The Cincinnati kid – 1965 (pictured)
An up and coming poker player tries to prove his worth in a high stakes game against a top veteran of the game. Starring Norman Jewison and Steve McQueen.
A Big Hand for the Little Lady – 1966
A couple and child arrive at a town on their way to buy a farm in San Antonio, and the man cannot resist joining a game of poker with the richest men in the region. He bets all his family’s money but in the climax of the game he suffers a heart attack, and the only way of recovering their money is by his wife continuing the game. The only problem is she has no idea how to play poker! Starring Fielder Cook, Henry Fonda and Joanne Woodward.
The Sting – 1973
A 1930’s con man living in Chicago is seeking revenge for a murdered partner. He decides to join forces with a master con man to win a fortune from a criminal banker. Starring George Roy Hill, Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
California Split – 1974
A down-on-his-luck gambler joins with a free spirit Elliot Goude. In debt and with no other choice, he decides to pawn all of his possessions and go to Reno for the poker game of a lifetime. Starring Robert Altman and George Segal.
House of games – 1987
A hooked gambler who has accumulated a mass of debt, his psychologist Margaret Ford decides to try and help her patient. So she visits the bar to see Mike, to whom the debt is owed, and who also runs poker games. He convinces her to assist him in a game, with her job being to look out for tell tale signs as to what hand players have. What seemed a simple job becomes a lot more complex. Starring David Mamet and Lindsay Crouse.
Honeymoon in Vegas – 1992
Created in 1992, a mother on her deathbed forces her son to promise never to get married. However, her son finally decides to tie the knot in Vegas. He stumbles into trouble when a wealthy gambler organises for him to lose $65k in a poker game. The wealthy gambler offers to wipe clear the debt if he can have a weekend with the man’s fiancé. Insanely jealous, the man decides to pursue his fiancé and the wealthy gambler, but falls into pitfalls as his interference is delayed. Starring Andrew Bergman, Nicholas Cage and Jessica Parker.
Rounders – 1998
A young reformed gambler is thrown back into his old lifestyle of high stakes poker to help one of his friends to pay off greedy loan sharks. Starring some big names from the film industry, including Matt Damon, John Dahl and Edward Norton.
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – 1998
In 1998, four London stiffs gamble all their money in one high stake card game, and things quickly go wrong when they end up owing half a million pounds and only have one week to come up with the cash. Starring Guy Ritchie. Jason Statham, Dexter Fletcher, Jason Fleming and Nick Moran.
