I occasionally go out for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. For light “pleasure reading,” I’ll carry my copy of Doyle Brunson’s autobiography: The Godfather of Poker. The more I read this book, the more I scratch my head and wonder: “Why in the hell hasn’t somebody in Hollywood flashed on the idea that a screenplay based on Doyle’s life would make for a great movie!?”

In no particular order, here are some of the stories and anecdotes from the book that would make for great movie scenes.

(1.) The early days of poker on Exchange Avenue in Dallas back in the 1950’s and 1960’s – prior to television and Doyle moving to Vegas before poker became what it is today. This would include incidents where Doyle and Slim got robbed and cheated – as well as the time that a cheater sitting right next to him got shot and killed by a guy whom he had cheated the day before. The cheater’s blood and brains splattered all over Doyle. Hollywood movies love a bit of gratuitous violence, so this scene would certainly be included.

(2.) Doyle’s early encounters with colorful characters like Johnny Moss – who was considered the best poker player in Texas at the time – Crandall Addington, Puggy Pearson, Sailor Roberts, Jack “Treetop” Strauss, and many others.

(3.) Doyle’s early ambition to be a professional basketball player and nearly being drafted by the Milwaukee Lakers before he suffered a leg injury that snuffed out his hopes of becoming a professional athlete.

(4.) The early days of married life when Louise wanted her husband to quit poker and get a steady job.

(5.) Doyle’s miracle recovery from a supposedly “inoperable” tumor in his neck which Brunson attributes to prayer groups organized by his wife Louise. (This is even more incredible due to the fact that Doyle has now beat cancer twice.) Doyle discusses his Christian faith and beliefs quite extensively in the book – which he credits in great part to his wife. This, I suppose, some people will find odd - considering the fact that Doyle is a big time gambler – but Doyle does profess a strong belief in God.

(6.) The birth of the WSOP and how that came about. (Doyle was there at the beginning.)

(7.) Doyle’s encounters with Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro – famously portrayed by Joe Pesci in the movie “Casino” – and Spilotro’s dire threats on Doyle’s life.

(8.) Doyle’s encounters with Jimmy Chagra (who he called “Chag”) and their interactions at the poker table and on the golf course. (One amusing incident that could be included in the movie would be the episode where Spilotro and Chagra butted heads in a heated argument over occupation of a restaurant booth. Oscar Goodman, the future mayor of Las Vegas who represented both of these explosive characters, called them together for a peace meeting in his office. What happened in that “meeting” would make for a good movie scene. (Read the book for an amusing account of what happened when Oscar thought that a gun suddenly discharged.)

(9.) The heartbreaking loss of his eldest daughter Doyla.

(10.) Doyle’s two Main Event wins in 1976 and 1977 and the famous 10-2 “Doyle Brunson” hand.

(11.) The dramatic in-home robbery where Doyle fakes a heart attack (talk about a great “bluff”) and his wife Louise displays some heroics of her own.

(12.) The success of his children – Pam and Todd – and the importance of family life in the Brunson household.

(13.) All the other interesting characters (especially the Binions) that Doyle has met and associated with over his lifetime.

There are other interesting anecdotes and stories I’ve left out, but there’s more than enough material in the book to make an interesting movie – or at least a movie that most poker players will actually go to a movie theatre and watch. Also, the fact that virtually all of these stories are based on actual events would make the movie even more compelling – as opposed to some made up malarkey like “Lucky You”. A lot of well known Hollywood actors and actresses could have bit parts in the movie since a lot of them, (i.e. Robert Duvall, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paris Hilton, Pam Anderson, Gabe Kaplan), have actually met Doyle or played poker with him. (Joe Pesci might be lured in to reprise his role as Spilotro.)

This is a project that wouldn’t require a lot of computer animation and special effects, so the whole thing can probably be done on a fairly inexpensive budget by Hollywood standards – which means such a movie could be a nice “Moneymaker” - pun intended.

If any of you folks know a Hollywood screenwriter or a studio exec, invite them out for dinner, have a nice talk with him or her, drop a hint and give him or her a copy of Doyle’s book.

Former DJ

I'm sure someone has it or has proposed this movie.. The book while being a few years old now is still relatively new and god knows how long it takes to get from book to movie.

Read the book many times but would still be one of the first people into the cinema should a movie ever make it out

worst pun ever at the end.

Such a story is suited better in a book.

If it were a movie it would have to be a documentary imo.

i'd rather have weekend at bernie's 3

PM KevinB

You might want to do some additional research into what makes "great movie scenes", because none of those qualify.

Biopics are notoriously difficult to adapt-- it's nearly impossible to condense a life into 40 or so scenes that have some semblance of a story arc. They also tend to not make money. That's a bad combination.

Affleck and Damon have probably already bought the movie rights. Most biopics only get greenlighted once the main protagonist has died, though, because then they can make up stuff and not get sued for libel. Don't ever die, Doyle!

because it would only appeal to poker players...a movie about titanic thompson (if both were done equally well) would get more interest from general public

wasnt there an award-winning screenplay writer that posts on 2+2? perhaps get it to him?

Mr. (Ms.?) Shavedcoidpurse:

<sarcasm mode on>

I see your point. I understand there are only something like SIXTY MILLION Americans who play poker as often as once or twice a month - not to mention all the poker players outside of the U.S. - so I can see how a movie based on Doyle's life would have a real hard time finding an audience. I'm so naive ...

<sarcasm mode off>

Former DJ

How many of those 60 million Americans watch the WSOP coverage?



Not everyone who has played a hand of poker thinks of Doyle as a God...I just couldn't see myself or friends/family who play poker sitting in a theater watching a movie about his life.

Haseeb (DogisHead)

I understand what you're saying here but I think, with a little bit of license, this could be made into a terrific movie. And some of the ideas mentioned would make terrific scenes.

Obviously a film could not include the entire biography, but I think they could certainly be fitted into an arc.

I have to say, I am certainly tempted to buy the book now!

I think it's a great idea for a movie OP. Good post.

I though this was about eponymous photoshop...

i am disapoint

**** yeah

This tbh, would be a far better movie imo

Well, if Doyle, a studio, a producer, or an investor, bought "Vegas Knights"

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/34...evin-b-701047/

for 100,000 I'd start on Doyle's movie for 0 dollars and 2% of the profits. I've already read Super System (probably twice) and I actually saw Doyle, Puggy, and Johnny Moss, at the WSOP when it was over at the Horseshoe when I lived in Vegas. The year I saw Puggy he wore an Arab Sheik outfit at the table as a joke. I also remember seeing Doyle lose ( I believe he had a full house) to some guy's 4 of a kind over at the Horseshoe.

I also had a thread about a year ago that stated Vegas should eventually name a street after Doyle. If Mel Torme, and Jerry Lewis can have a street there, why not someone like Doyle, who is a big part of the history of the town.

Scenes of Stu Ungar and Doyle on the golf course would be enjoyable. On one particular day, Stu brought $50,000 in a brown paper bag to settle whatever losses he had on the course. He loses the bag. (spoiler alert) They eventually find the bag right where Stu left it - in an open locker in the men's locker room. (cue Benny Hill theme with Doyle chasing Stu around the golf course swatting him on the head)

not before he dies LDO.

In before thread gets locked and Kevin B gets banned from posting in NVG.

Actually, most of these would each make an entire movie, not a scene, and therein lies the problem, or one of them. Biopics are very difficult to adapt from a book, or from real life. Life is long. Screenplays are short.

Biopics are nearly always a hard sell, and this one in particular would be very difficult to get made. If Hollywood thought otherwise, someone would have already bought the film rights, and as far as I know, no one has.

While a movie about Doyle Brunson would be of interest to everyone on 2+2, it probably wouldn't be of interest to most other people, especially women of all ages, and everyone under 21 who is not already into poker, along with a huge chunk of everybody else. That severely limits the market.

It fails virtually every test of "why don't we make this movie?"

Look at the sludge that Hollywood studios are making. That's what they want, because that's what the audience pays to see.

I am a Hollywood screenwriter, a more less retired one, and I wouldn't dare take this to any studio exec. I'd be happy to adapt the book if they hired me, which they wouldn't, but it would be a very, very difficult job, and it would no doubt die in development after multiple screenwriters took a shot and never get made anyway.