Steve McQueen plays young stud poker player Eric Stoner, who is itching to take on "The Man," Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson), in Norman Jewison's The Cincinnati Kid.

Set in the Depression-era 1930s, hotshot gambler Steve McQueen is out to capture the unofficial title of the best stud poker player in America. Standing in his way is the cagey veteran Edward G. Robinson, with Karl Malden, Tuesday Weld, Ann-Margret and Joan Blondell lending strong support in director Norman Jewison's film classic, The Cincinnati Kid.

Richard Jessup Writes the Novel

The Cincinnati Kid is based on the novel of the same name by Richard Jessup. Published by Little, Brown & Co. in 1963, Jessup's slim novel numbered a mere 154 pages and was priced at $3.95.

"Mr. Jessup has brilliantly enlarged the microcosm of the gambling table, to make it a genuine setting for a novel," reported Conrad Knickerbocker in The New York Times Book Review (1/5/64).

"Of its kind, this novel is simply first-rate," opined Paul Carroll in Book Week (1/26/64).

Paddy Chayefsky and Sam Peckinpah First Choices

With the movie rights to Jessup's novel secured by producer Martin Ransohoff, Paddy Chayefsky was brought in to write the screenplay and Sam Peckinpah to direct. When Chayefsky's script proved to be too atmospheric for Ransohoff's taste, the project was turned over to Ring Lardner Jr., who with Terry Southern crafted the final draft.

Sam Peckinpah, a maverick director with a richly earned reputation as a hard drinker and reckless egotist, ran afoul of producer Ransohoff almost immediately. After only four days on the set, in which he managed to shoot an unscripted riot scene involving over 300 extras and a controversial nude scene involving an unknown black actress, Peckinpah was fired. Eventually Norman Jewison was brought in to replace him.

The Cast

The Cincinnati Kid was to be a Steve McQueen picture from the get-go, with the hot young actor cast as Eric Stoner in the title role. Originally slated to play the old poker champ, Lancey Howard, was Spencer Tracy, who withdrew citing health reasons. Brought in as Tracy's replacement was Edward G. Robinson.

Initially cast in the role of Christian, the Kid's girlfriend, was Sharon Tate, whom Ransohoff was grooming for stardom. But when Sam Peckinpah objected to Tate (later murdered by the "Manson Family" in 1969), the role went to Tuesday Weld.

Other performers added to the cast included Karl Malden (Shooter), Ann-Margret (Melba Nile), Joan Blondell (Lady Fingers), Rip Torn (Slade), Jack Weston (Pig), Cab Calloway (Yeller) and Jeff Corey (Hoban).

McQueen's Big Las Vegas Trip

Following Peckinpah's departure and the search for another director, MGM presented a restless Steve McQueen with $25,000 and sent him to Las Vegas with his buddy, Dave Resnick. "We went to Vegas and partied for two weeks," Resnick later recalled. "It was a bizarre time. Oh (censored), we had a great time!"

Filmed in New Orleans

Originally budgeted at $2.6 million (the final tab was $3.3 million due to a costly halt in production), The Cincinnati Kid was filmed on location in New Orleans. By most accounts it was a rocky shoot, with director Jewison having to soothe both the egos of Steve McQueen and Edward G. Robinson.

The Kid vs. Lancey Howard

The Cincinnati Kid follows the exploits of Eric Stoner, a young, cocky gambler who desires to be the number one stud poker player in the land. Standing in the Kid's way is the wily veteran, Lancey Howard, who has just decimated a wealthy New Orleans businessman named Slade in a private poker match.

The Kid sits down to play with Howard and several other high rollers. What ensues is a marathon game of stud poker, with the Kid and Lancey the last men standing. The Kid hits a full house, but is that enough to beat the crafty, poker-faced champ?

New Orleans Premiere

The Cincinnati Kid, whose bluesy theme song was peformed by Ray Charles, made its world premiere in New Orleans on September 21, 1965. The film later went into general release on October 15, 1965.

Box Office and Reviews

A hit at the box office, The Cincinnati Kid grossed over $6 million, surprising one of its biggest doubters, Steve McQueen himself.

The reviews for the fim were mixed, with some critics comparing it unfavorably to a previous gambling picture, Robert Rossen's The Hustler (1961). "The film pales beside The Hustler..." reported Howard Thompson of The New York Times (10/28/65). "The pool sharks in The Hustler have it all over the card sharks in The Cincinnati Kid, in spades."

"...After the game, I'll be The Man. I'll be the best there is," the Kid tells his girlfriend Christian.

Not so fast, Kid...