The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie - Movie Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

One of John Cassavetes' grittiest films, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, if nothing else, gives us Ben Gazzara in a virtuoso performance. His haughty strip club owner is full of sadness and great lines, and though his story is circuitous and overlong (particularly the 1976 original; the 1978 version is about half an hour shorter), it's got moxie. The dilemma at hand: Should the broke Gazzara kill a rival Chinese bookie in order to wipe out his own $23,000 gambling bet? Heavy stuff, but it takes its sweet sweet time in getting to the point.

Read more on this film, with other Cassavetes classics.

Facts and Figures

Year: 1976

Run time: 135 mins

In Theaters: Saturday 8th October 1977

Distributed by: Criterion Collection

Production compaines: Faces Distribution

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Fresh: 17 Rotten: 5

IMDB: 7.5 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: John Cassavetes

Producer: Al Ruban

Screenwriter: John Cassavetes

Starring: Ben Gazzara as Cosmo Vittelli, Timothy Carey as Flo (as Timothy Agoglia Carey), Seymour Cassel as Mort Weil, Robert Phillips as Phil, Morgan Woodward as The Boss, John Kullers as The Accountant (as John Red Kullers), Al Ruban as Marty Reitz, Azizi Johari as Rachel, Virginia Carrington as Mama, Meade Roberts as Mr. Sophistication

Also starring: John Cassavetes