When you play with a cheater, be sure you cheat better than he does. The finale to the most famous of poker movies unfortunately is so ludicrous it damages the whole film. The Kid bungles the hand like only a blithering idiot could. He marks the cards in a way only he can see. Naturally, after these cards go into circulation, Beatty goes on the rush to end all rushes playing blackjack and poker.
Gin is the game.
Fine film, wonderful scene. The tepid 1993 remake with Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson features a much weaker gin scene. If you swallow the fact that a player can walk across the street carrying her cards in the middle of a hand, you should enjoy this movie with Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward and a roster of fine character actors. Several versions of this story have been filmed. I guess I'm just a no good rat.