THE GAMBLER directed by Karel Reisz stars James Caan in a difficult role as Alex Freed a compulsive gambler with many inner demons who is completely out of control He can't resist a bad bet because that's where the juice is While his irrational rationalizations--largely influenced by Dostoyevsky whose novel THE GAMBLER he teaches to his students at City College--might seem like a lot of … Continue
The first motion picture that casts the infamous "Rat Pack" in major roles, "Oceans 11." Playing an ex-WWII soldier, Sinatra's Danny Ocean plans the greatest heist in history: Rob five Las Vegas casinos at once on New Year's Eve. It's a bold plot for a bold cast. There's Frank with his "I own the world" charisma. There's Sammy Davis Jr. with his usual flair for the song and dance routine. "Deano" Dean Martin also croons in the picture, and Peter Lawford, the only non-singer of the four main Rat Packers, still holds the audience with his charm and wit. This film shows what Las Vegas was like when it was an "adults only" city. This was when Sinatra and his boys ruled Vegas, and we should be thankful that they had the foresight to put some of the flavor of the times on film.