Rent The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

ICE COOL McQUEEN - The Cincinnati Kid review by PT

McQueen plays Eric Stoner, perhaps the greatest five card stud player of them all. To be the man though he must beat "the man" Lancey Howard the ageing king of the game.

McQueen is superb as the confident kid, convinced he's the best and ready to take Lancey apart. Edward G is brilliant as the old master, still awesome but showing signs of weariness. Add the machinations of interested parties in this showdown, and the superb femme fatale in the shape of the amazing Ann Margaret and you got yourself a great Hollywood production.

The final hand is shot and acted so well, you live the tension with them. Great.

Nothing Beats a Straight Face - The Cincinnati Kid review by griggs

Steve McQueen spends most of this holding a face you can't read, which is exactly the point — everyone else at the table is sweating, and he's giving nothing away.

The story's simple: a hotshot young gambler takes on the reigning champ in one long poker game, and the whole film builds toward that final hand. Edward G. Robinson, playing Lancey Howard, cleans the table without even seeming to try — he's got the energy of a man who's already won before a single card's dealt. Joan Blondell, as the dealer, gets the best lines and clearly knows it. Tuesday Weld does more with less as the Kid's girlfriend than Ann-Margret manages with the flashier, thinner role she's handed.

The opening hand is a bit of a slow shuffle, and the middle stretch could've been trimmed. But once the final game starts, I was hooked — you can feel the stakes rise with every raise.

Doesn't put a foot wrong once the cards come out.