A prerequisite to enjoying this movie to it's absolute fullest is that you possess the ability to thoroughly comprehend the mindset of all the pivotal characters involved.. What exactly is their dubious mindset anyway? Here is my interpretation of it..1) Winning at gambling is far more gratifying than winning at anything else. 2)Running the risk of losing a formidable sum of money is a flaunting form of vindication which nurtures everybody's incredibly inflated egos. 3) The woman you wind up in bed with is reduced to chattel, she is nothing more than a mere token of your success. Last, but certainly not least, #4) A conventional lifestyle is a high roller's most deadly adversary!! These men are gamblers, which means the ground rules encompass a desultory and lethal contention of all or nothing. "The Cincinnati Kid" establishes a dire genre of happenstance adversity that relegates the protagonists to a sink or swim situation. This is carried off in this movie with a very convincing callousness. Steve McQueen is sensational in this movie, as is Ann Margaret, and, so too is Edward G Robinson. Director, Norman Jewison does a tremendous job at depicting a scenario whereby life is literally reduced to the luck of the draw.. Suddenly, the jack of diamonds stares Steve McQueen in the face, and life as he knows it is over. Norman Jewison, the director of this film, "The Cincinnati Kid", had a different idea of how this picture should end. Executive producer's wishes for the type of ending this film should have, emerged victorious over Jewison's, and mollified the catastrophic outcome of this flick. They (The Producers) dispensed with the idea that the bottom should have to fall out, thus upholding that Steve McQueen should not experience total devastation, to which, Norman Jewison simply asked "Why Not?" I loved this movie, I give it a perfect 10!!!! Particulairly on account of the visceral creativity that "Cincinnati Kid" casually manufactures, and comfortably sustains the movie audience with in a very entertaining state of suspense!!
Review of The Cincinnati Kid
