Hottest Casino Movies - Top Ten of All Time

As the movie 21 hits the big screen next month, this is the appropriate time to look back on the connection between the silver screen and the casino gambling industry. I suppose the first movie to draw the attention of the public to the attractions of the casino was the Elvis Presley movie, Viva Las Vegas, a smash back in 1964. Ann Margaret played a Vegas showgirl who captured the heart of Vegas entertainer, Elvis Presley. The scenes displayed action fast and furious, and the movie was shot exclusively in the most famous gambling town in the world, Las Vegas, Nevada.

While Elvis and Ann Margaret brought the excitement of the casino into movie theatres around the world, there has been a long-standing relationship between gambling and the movies. Almost every western ever made had a gambling scene in it. The westerns generally featured a poker game in the saloon of a western town during the mid-1800’s. America still was unexplored, especially in the West, and the movies depicted this unlawful time in American history by highlighting the game of poker.

Hottest Casino Movies - Here are the Cream of the Crop

In the early days of motion pictures, there were movies such as Gambling Lady and Gambler’s Choice that presented the Old Wild West from a gambler’s perspective. When casinos developed in the United States as Vegas grew, Hollywood began to tap into the popularity of the casino. In 1973, The Sting won the Academy Award as the Picture of the Year, and Paul Newman won as Best Actor from that film. The Sting, with Academy Award winning music by Marvin Hamlisch, depicted two drifters who were after a mob character from New York in an attempt to get revenge for the murder of a friend. They conned the mobster in an intricate plan that featured a speakeasy saloon with a horse-betting casino. It wasn’t long after the success of that movie that gambling was legalised in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

At any rate, here is our list for the top ten hottest casino movies of all time.

Casino - This 1995 epic starred Robert DeNiro and Sharon Stone, and it represented a time back in the 1970’s when the Mafia ran the action in Las Vegas. DeNiro played the role of Frankie Rothstein, who ran the casino action back in the 70’s. Joe Pesci and James Woods co-starred in the finest casino movie made to date.

The Sting - Described above

The Gambler - James Caan plays a professor from New York City who has a gambling addiction. The film portrays the old time gritty world of gambling, with frank realism that is compelling to the viewer.

The Cincinnati Kid - Steve McQueen stars in this 1965 flick about a poker duel featuring the late, great Edward G. Robinson. The Kid lost the last hand to Robinson, but both won at the box office.

Rounders - Matt Damon is a New York law student who finances his way to a law degree by playing poker. This film sparked a tremendous revival in poker interest, and it was the force behind the televising of poker games that remains prevalent today.

Vegas Vacation - Chevy Chase stars with Randy Quaid in this spoof on two couples who vacation in Las Vegas with their families. It is a hilarious movie, highlighted by the cameo appearance of comedy star Sid Caesar.

Viva Las Vegas - Described above

Kaleidoscope - This 1966 movie features Warren Beatty as a card player who discovers a great way to cheat at cards. He finds out that all casinos use the same card manufacturer, and he steals the plates that make the cards. The movie was both exciting and well acted.

A Big Hand for the Little Lady - Henry Fonda and Joanne Woodward are husband and wife who get caught up in a high stakes poker game for their farm. Fonda gets sick in the film, and Woodward takes over the game, despite the fact she knows very little about poker. This 1966 film has a surprise ending, so order the DVD today.

High Roller: The Stu Unger Story - Michael Imperioli (Christopher on The Sopranos) stars as Stu Unger, a gambler who won millions at the casino parlour but lost everything on the ponies and drugs. This 2003 film presents an honest picture of the life and death of one of the great poker players of our time.

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