Movies - The Gambler

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	Movies - The Gambler

The Gambler is a 1974 movie starring James Caan, Lauren Hutton, and Paul Sorvino.

The film is loosely based on the short story The Gambler by Dostoyevsky and was filmed at a time in which leading actor James Caan was battling his own addiction to cocaine. Caan was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of addiction.

Plot

James Caan plays Axel Freed, a literature professor with gambling addiction that begins to spiral out of control. As a professor, Freed is inspiring including in his readings of Dostoyevsky's tale. His success as a person outside of his gambling is represented in the form of his attractive girlfriend Billie, Lauren Hutton. As a gambler however, Freed is less successful and begins to attract the attentions of local gangster Hips played by Paul Sorvino.

The plot follows Freed's descent into gambling addiction, his compulsion drives him to borrow money from his mother and then from Hips. The gangster takes pity on Freed and does his best to assist his academically gifted friend. However, Freed's addiction prevents him from simply paying off his debts when he wins and instead, his wagers become larger and more dangerous until he owes more than he can possibly repay. The climax of the film shows Freed's addiction affecting those around him, his friends abandon him and he corrupts the talented students in his school where he encourages them to throw a game of basketball to help clear his debts. Even that is not enough for Freed and the film ends on a bitter note with the hero unable to rid himself of gambling and he descends to violence in which he kills a street pimp and turns his back on the rest of society.

Cast

James Caan as Axel Freed
Paul Sorvino as Hips
Lauren Hutton as Billie
Morris Carnovsky as A.R. Lowenthal
Jacqueline Brookes as Naomi Freed

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