Gambling in the Golden Age of Hollywood: Classic Films on Casinos, Cards, and Horse Racing

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Gambling in the Golden Age of Hollywood: Classic Films on Casinos, Cards, and Horse Racing

The relationship between Hollywood and gambling is a long one. Filled with absolute classics and hidden gems, from the blustery rails at the racetrack to the smoking rooms of the 1940s casinos, there’s a great gambling film to be found in all kinds of settings, from all different eras. Together, we’re going to look at some of my personal favourites. Whether you’re a film noir fanatic, or prefer a modern thriller, I’m fairly certain there’ll be at least one film on this list that will tickle your fancy.

The Cooler (2003)

This Wayne Kramer hit takes a distinctly different approach to the casino setting. While we’re used to seeing high stakes games played out, the poor become rich on the roll of a dice, or watching as a poker game turns nasty, this film takes a more day-to-day approach. William H. Macy plays Bernie Lootz, a man who is under enormous demand for his incredibly bad luck. Lootz is employed by the casino to ‘cool off’ the winning streaks of any fortune gamblers, by using the slot machines that they’re on. Anyone who knows how real money slots work will know that luck (bad or good) has nothing to do with it. It’s all based on random number generation, but Lootz’s uniquely terrible luck seems to have an effect. However, things change when he meets Natalie (played by Maria Bello), a bright and bubbly cocktail waitress. You can probably guess what happens next - Lootz falls in love. I shan’t spoil the ending for you, but when Lootz’s mood starts to change, it’s possible that his mood - and his livelihood - are on the line.

Gilda (1946)

My next pick is a true film noir classic, Gilda. This film features a star-studded cast, including Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, and George Macready. Plus, it was directed by Charles Vidor, so without this synopsis, you know it’s going to be good. The film follows the story of Johnny Farrell who gets to know a not so nice casino owner named Ballin Mundson. The relationship is rocky enough to begin with but becomes even more complicated when Mundson shows up at the casino with Johnny’s ex girlfriend - Gilda. In this film the casino is less a plot device than a suitably dark setting. Rita Hayworth as Gilda is the archetypal femme fatale and for this reason alone many people have read into the casino setting as an equal predator. Personally, I think it looks great in black and white, with shining lights, polished tables, and thin whisps of smoke reeling across the screen. You should give it a watch and decide for yourself.

Dream Horse (2020)

We’re off to the races for this next film, one based on a true story - always a great start! It tells the story of a small group of people who live in the Welsh countryside, who have a big dream of owning a horse that wins the Welsh Grand National. Well, once the determined bartender (played masterfully by Toni Collette) gets this notion in her head, there’s no stopping her from finding her Dream Horse. She pulls together a collection jar from all the patrons of her bar and buys a mare to breed from. Before long, Toni has her foal - Dream Alliance - and has enough money to put it into training at a local racing yard. It turns out the horse has a talent, and a slew of surprise victories comes their way. For me, it’s the ultimate underdog story, made even better by the fact it’s a community success - and true.

Guys and Dolls (1955) 

Let’s round things off with a musical - and what better musical than Guys and Dolls? Taken from the Broadway musical that almost all of us have been to see, this film is a masterful adaptation of a classic. I will admit, in terms of location, this isn’t perhaps what you’re expecting. It’s not set at the racetrack, or the casino, this film still deals with themes of gambling thanks to two brilliant performances by Marlon Brando as Sky Matserson and Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit. These two are gambling men, both out to achieve their own successes. Sky wants to ‘bag’ the love of a missionary woman Sarah Brown, while Nathan wants to find a location to keep his craps games running. Sky has a bet with Nathan that he’ll be able to woo Sarah before Nathan can find his underground hideout. What unfolds is a true adventure through 1950s New York, with some of the most well-known tunes from the musical genre. While many of us remember Guys and Dolls as a tale of love and mischief, take the time to watch it through once more. All the driving forces in this film are based around bets and card games. Watching it through the lens of gambling makes it even more interesting.