What makes this movie so special are outstanding performances all around by Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Kevin McCarthy and other supporting actors in addition to some surprising plot twists along the way. Not much should be taken seriously in this movie about a high-stakes poker game held in the backroom of a saloon in Laredo, Texas. This is one of three comedies to make my top 21 list. The wonderful surprise ending is not to be missed. Sterling Hayden plays the grizzled unsympathetic lead. Still, if you can overlook its darker edges, The Killing is a very good movie. The plot hits a little too close to home given some current events.
Also quite troubling, since the plan calls for a sniper to shoot one of the racehorses while running down the backstretch and in the ensuing chaos, the racetrack gets robbed by masked gunmen who take $2 million in a heist. Very dark film with some humorous moments. It’s about a scheme to rob a racetrack (filmed on location at Santa Anita). This was an early Stanley Kubrick film made in 1956. READ HERE: THE 21 BEST GAMBLING MOVIES OF ALL TIME (11-21)Ĭontinuing with my countdown, let’s proceed to the top ten: In PART 1, I posted the first half of my list - “The 21 Best Gambling Movies of All Time.” The 21 Best Gambling Movies of All Time (1-10)
