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Trailer

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

1976Movie2 h 15 minR

CrimeThriller
72
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Metacritic656.2Rotten Tomatoes81%82%

A bleak, intriguing thriller movie about everyday modern life and crime.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

Cosmo Vittelli, the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort, he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.

Feels like

  • Neo-Noir
  • Crime Drama
  • Character Study
  • Bleak
  • Gritty
  • Showbiz
  • Independent Film
  • 1970s
  • Los Angeles

Cast

15 of 15

Crew

Directed by
John Cassavetes
Written by
John Cassavetes
Produced by
Al Ruban
Music by
Bo Harwood

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 15, 1976 · 2 h 15 min · R

Released
February 15, 1976
Runtime
2 h 15 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
10 countries

Tropes

Conversation Cut, The Mafia, Lens Flare +9

  • Conversation Cut
  • The Mafia
  • Lens Flare
  • Burlesque
  • Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic
  • Big Bad
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Karma Houdini
  • Action Survivor
  • Film Noir
  • Opportunistic Bastard
  • Fanservice

12 of 27 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Killing of a Chinese Bookie?"

Questions about The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Killing of a Chinese Bookie?

HBO MaxCriterion

In the United States, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie streams on HBO Max and Criterion. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 6 other countries.

Is The Killing of a Chinese Bookie worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 72 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 65).

Will I feel good after watching The Killing of a Chinese Bookie?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 3 for hopefulness.

What tropes does The Killing of a Chinese Bookie use?

Conversation CutThe MafiaLens FlareBurlesqueRealistic Diction Is UnrealisticBig BadBittersweet EndingKarma HoudiniAction SurvivorFilm NoirOpportunistic BastardFanserviceand 15 more

TV Tropes lists 27 tropes for it, including Conversation Cut, The Mafia, and Lens Flare.