The Gambler

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The Gambler

R

1974

1h 49m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

New York City English professor Axel Freed (James Caan) outwardly seems like an upstanding citizen. But privately Freed is in the clutches of a severe gambling addiction that threatens to destroy him. After a heavy loss betting on basketball, he relies on his mother to bail him out to the tune of $44,000. Unfazed, he continues to gamble recklessly, winning big at a casino, only to blow it all just as quickly. When his debts become more than he can handle, the loan sharks begin to circle.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/25/2023

Karel Reisz directed the picture with a smooth proficiency that doesn't come easy; James Caan's central performance gives it a backbone, it's strikingly well-edited, and it's dramatically supercharged and compelling.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

04/29/2018

4/4

Reisz, Caan, and screenwriter James Toback have constructed the character and the movie so convincingly that the scene not only works, but works two ways: first as suspense, and then as character revelation.

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

May 8

B

Caan holds it all together with his presence, giving "The Gambler" unique scenes of silent tension and internal processing to go with meatier displays of irritation.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

07/22/2021

3/4

...a better-than-average character study that boasts one of Caan's very best performances.

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John Simon

Esquire Magazine

02/10/2019

We feel neither Axel's ghastly compulsion nor his intermittent exultation -- granted that he gets very little help from the script.

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

04/22/2007

3/5

Fairly good dramatics topped by strong James Caan.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Apr 29

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Monica B

@Chartreusea Mar 13

Great Movie-supporting cast is great, you will see many Goodfellas actors here! And also from Welcome Back Kotter and Alice (tv) Lauren Hutton is actually a very good actress- she doesn't get enough credit.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 05/13/2025

Western movies will never be the same again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In 1 hour and 49 minutes, Western movie fans will cheer, like me, for example.

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Mike F

@RT08031912 01/27/2024

Terrific performance by Jimmy Caan portraying the tension between the professional life of a respected college professor and his addiction to gambling

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santana !

@RT31087214 08/02/2023

A riveting story of a compulsive gambler on a path to self-destruction, and caan is excellent in this heart-wrenching character piece.

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steve d

@RT35616104 07/16/2020

Unpleasant and it is hard to care about the characters.

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Karel Reisz

Director

James Caan

Axel Freed

Paul Sorvino

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A. R. Lowenthal

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Synopsis

New York City English professor Axel Freed (James Caan) outwardly seems like an upstanding citizen. But privately Freed is in the clutches of a severe gambling addiction that threatens to destroy him. After a heavy loss betting on basketball, he relies on his mother to bail him out to the tune of $44,000. Unfazed, he continues to gamble recklessly, winning big at a casino, only to blow it all just as quickly. When his debts become more than he can handle, the loan sharks begin to circle.

Director: Karel Reisz
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter: James Toback
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Runtime: 1h 49m