The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
1976 · Movie · 135 min. · United States
Cosmo Vitelli owns the Crazy Horse West, a strip joint in California. He's laconic, a Korean War vet, and a gambler. When we meet him, he's making his last payment on a gambling debt. Then, he promptly loses $23,000 playing poker at an illegal local casino. The guys he owes this time aren't so friendly, pressuring him for immediate payment. Then they suggest that he kill a Chinese bookie to wipe off the debt. Vitelli and the film move back and forth between the double-crossing, murderous insincerity of the gamblers and the friendships, sweetness, and even love among Vitelli and the people around him.
Direction John Cassavetes
Cast Ben Gazzara · Timothy Carey · Seymour Cassel · Azizi Johari · Virginia Carrington · Meade Roberts · Alice Friedland · Donna Gordon · Al Ruban
Soundtrack Bo Harwood
Screenplay John Cassavetes
Cinematography Frederick Elmes · Michael Ferris · Mitch Breit · Al Ruban
Original title The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
6.9
2K votes (FilmAffinity)
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