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The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Movie Review

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Review

"The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" Overview

***1/2 stars

Rating: R
1976


Cast and Crew

Director : John Cassavetes
Producer : Al Ruban
Screenwiter : John Cassavetes
Starring : Ben Gazzara,Timothy Carey,Seymour Cassel,Robert Phillips,Morgan Woodward,John Kullers

 
Ben Gazzara picture 2170756

 

 

Click for the BEN GAZZARA Gallery

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.



Review by

Christopher Null


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