Definitely. If you haven't seen it, check out the Theroux documentary about safari hunting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzMde...eature=related

There's a great confrontation near the end between Louis and one of the farm owners regarding Louis' needling.

This. Also, Double Down by Fred and Steve Barthelme was a pretty good read on the subject.

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/28/books/losing-it.html

I saw a movie this week on TCM cable called "The Great Sinner" starring Gregory Peck.

It was made in 1945. I thought it was one of the best movies about gambling that I ever saw.

The story takes place in the 1860's. Gregory Peck plays a writer named Fedja. He goes to Monte Carlo to write a book about gambling. He eventually becomes a compulsive gambler.

One of the best scenes is when he plays roulette for the first time. He decides to play #1----and loses. He plays #1 again and loses. He notices a new player had bet on #26 because "it hasn't hit in 3 days." He decides to stick with #1 and loses again. The winning number was #26. He now switches to #26 and you can guess what happens----#1 comes out. I laughed because anyone who has played roulette, has had that happen to them.

He later starts playing baccarat. He wins a fortune and loses it all. All in all, I thought that anyone who gambles, can see a little bit of themselves in this movie.

Originally Posted by Karamazov View Post
+1

Forget films. Read Dostoevsky.

Based loosely on the Dostoyevsky novel, The Gambler stars Gregory Peck as a sensitive 19th-century Russian author.

Busto to Robusto with Captain Zeebo?

I am still watching it, but it's giving me a head ache.

ugh... This was hard to watch. Is that the general consensus and I like got rick rolled by watching it?

or...

Frederick also wrote an excellent fictionalized version of his gambling difficulties called Bob the Gambler. I'd recommend reading both together.

Back to the movies, for this topic I'd have to go with The Gambler over California Split, though I like the latter film more in general. James Toback, the writer of The Gambler, was a serious degen, to the point where he had a whole chapter of the 1991 book Superbookie: Inside Las Vegas Sports Gambling, devoted to him; I remember a part where he had a six-figure bet on the freaking All-Star Game. More than probably anybody else in movies, the guy knew the territory.

http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/james-toback/5/

I also like

The Cooler
&
Owning Mahowny

the best degen scene in that is when he tells his unbeknownst buddy to take all those blackjack chips to the room and not give them back even if he begs. Then like 2 hours later he's begging the guy to give them back and the guy does lol. DEGENERACY.

by far.

thanks for the responses, I watched owning mahowny and it was very good. thanks!

Nobody mentioned "The Cincinnati Kid" with Seve McQueen, Karl Malden, Edward G. Robinson? OMG I think I'm oldschool

I found it lacking. Theroux came across as a total stiff who shows no sympathy or willingness to understand anything. It's like that friend you have who thinks poker is nonsense, and when you explain it to him he is just saying 'yeah sure' with a look on his face that says "I am hearing you talk but I don't even want to listen, I'm just trying to keep a straight face instead of laughing in your face". And he's British, from the country with bookmakers on every street, where every adult gambles recklessly on dogs, horses, lotto or sports.

It's amazing he even found people willing to speak with him, with that attitude of not wanting to show any understanding I bet 90% of the people gave up trying to talk to him within 10 minutes.

Theroux goes to Vegas, and instead of actually going to a casino he just stays in the Hilton. They do offer some games but you could see it was just a wide open space with some tables and maybe a dozen people hanging there. He never even bothered to go to a real casino.

**** me i can't find it, but there is a loldocumentary on gambling addiction somewhere on hulu, one of the major characters in the doc has a crippling keno addiction

Where can I view the Theroux doc? Netflix doesn't have it.

Except there is no poker talk in his vegas doc and the guys he talks to are clearly losing gamblers with an addiction. I think he is usually very sympathetic towards the people he interviews(check weird weekends demolition derby/prison doc), unless the people deserve to have their theories met with skepticism(addicted gamblers) or opposition(racist supremacists) .

edit: link for vegas doc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x4rn8zq4s0

the best book is "bust" by adam resick

Finally gotten around to seeing Owning Mahowny: yeah, it's this and it's not even close...

I know I'm a year late to this, but does anyone have a working link? I clicked on this one, and it says you can't watch it outside of Canada...

Relevant screen name.

the simpsons .......... Marge and the slots

Fyi, hilton in vegas is a huge casino/hotel. Not sure where you're getting your info... Tons of have gambled there, larry flynt, jordan, etc. Bill gates wanted to stay at a suite at the hilton because it's known to have one of the best suites in north america.

this +100

best book about gambooling and i've read most of them

there is a new movie coming out its called 'bout tree fiddy'

Owning Mahoney by far.
The way the casino manager talks to the black employee makes this film worth the watch. Mahoney kills it too.

Yep.

So many great scenes in this film. So sad when his gf meets him late in the flick to give him a hat or some ****.

Dude who plays the bookie died this year/late last year.

I know OP wasn't looking for books but check out Brandon Adams' "Broke: A Poker Novel." Starts off with a great degen scene and a later slide blows that one out of the water. Quick read too with lots of re-read value.

Maury Chaykin. Beloved Canadian character actor. Most memorable in the lead role in a cult film called Whale Music about a Brian Wilson-esque rock n' roll recluse.