The Gambler (1974) Movie

Plot Summary: Based on Dostoyevsky’s novel, The Gambler (1974) directed by Karl Reisz is based on Axel Freed, this New York City English professor whose addiction to gambling spirals out of control. Axel’s (played by James Caan) flamboyant and promiscuous nature along with his idiosyncratic interpretation of Dostoyevsky mesmerizes his students and one beautiful student of his Billie (Lauren Hutton) falls in love with him. But his worsening gambling habits runs him into heavy debt with his bookie Hips (Paul Sorvino) which threatens his lifestyle.

He extorts $45,000 from his mother to pay back his debt but ends up betting it,unable to refrain himself from the greed which estranges him from his family and his principles. The film thus ends depicting Axel on a perilous path of risk taking.

Quotes From The Gambler

Axel Freed: I’m not going to lose it. I’m going to gamble it.

Hips: The only thing that’s standing between your skull and a baseball bat is my word.

Hips: Forty-four thousand dollars, Axel. It ain’t just numbers.