The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (18)
D: John Cassavetes
Faces Distribution (John Cassavetes)
US 1976
108 mins (extended version: 135 mins)
Crime/Drama
W: John Cassavetes
DP: Mitchell Breit & Al Ruban
Ed: Tom Cornwell
Mus: Bo Harwood
Ben Gazzara (Cosmo Vittelli), Timothy Carey (Flo),
Seymour Cassel (Mort Weil), Morgan Woodward (The Boss)
Like all the films of John Cassavetes, this isn't for everyone
and is more likely to bore the majority of people rather than enthral.
A
seedy strip-club owner finds himself indebted to the mob, and the only way to wipe the slate clean is to assassinate a rival Chinese bookmaker.
The performance of Ben Gazzara makes the film watchable, but
the pedestrian pacing and frequently pretentious direction will leave many people snoring before the film has even got close to its climax.
The shorter version is definitely recommended over the 135
minute version, which even the lead star admitted being bored by (as was I).
6/10
