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Cincinnati is an American television drama series starring Eric, a young stunner. As an upcoming poker player, he tries to compete with a master in the field. The Cincinnati Kid is a 1965 movie directed by Norman Jewison that tells the story of Eric the Kid. The movie explains the mechanism of the offshore casino gambling world. According to John Baxter, Cincinnati Kid unites many of these disparate pieces in performance with edgy passion; “rich crimsons; browned or sweating faces in shadowed spaces.”It’s a remarkable piece that’s been assembled with a marvelous cast.
The Kid wants to topple Steve McQueen as a “derelict beatnik card magician.” Edward G. Robinson stars as “The Man,” the unchallenged poker lord the Kid wants to topple. Karl Malden plays Shooter; a lovely man forced to deal dirty in the Kid’s poker showdown with the Man. Add a cast of secondary and minor characters from one of the more intriguing mid-’60s film projects.
Let’s dive into the facts you need to know about the movie The Cincinnati Kid.
The Role of “Lady Fingers” Changed Hands
Joan Blondell was the one who was trained for the role of Lady Fingers. His trainer was a technical advisor and master card trickster, Jay Ose. Initially, Mitzi Gaynor had campaigned for the part, later given to Blondell. Rumor has it that Gaynor and Ann Margret had fallen out and were thus not on good terms.
Sam Peckinpah Changes in the Early Expository Scene
Director Sam Peckinpah insisted on scrapping an episode where a vibrator massages a naked girl. Finally, he removed the vibrator from that scene and left the girl alone. She was later covered with fur, giving a morally righteous shot. Because the time changed, Martin Ranshoff didn’t like the decision.
Director Sam Peckinpah was Replaced
Other replacements followed after Martin, the producer, fired Sam. Tuesday Weld replaced Sharon Tate in the movie. Sam’s mistake was to change the character of the girl who was supposed to be naled with a vibrator massaging her.
Edward G. Robinson Pays the Gambler
This movie is the second that Edward has played a gambler. It features diamond flushes and is the last hand in Smart Money and the last hand in the film. The closing credits are overlaid on top of it.
Opening Scene Was Shot at New Orleans cemetery
Cincinnati’s opening scene was shot at St. Louis No. 1 at the New Orleans cemetery. The cemetery is located in the central city. Later, another film used the exact location to record their movie. An argument led to banning shooting in that area unless the Archisioceses agreed.
Conclusion
The Cincinnati’s plot, themes, characters, and settings resemble Robert Rossen’s 1961 picture, The Hustler. Its stylized realism, magical color, and numerous subplots give it dramatic intricacy and self-awareness. McQueen’s mutterings and incoherence add to the strength of his character, which is given sarcastic humor. Robinson is credible as the ancient card master, and Malden shines as the upright dealer.
Featured Image Credit: IMDb