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Cast

Steve McQueen
as Eric Stoner - the Cincinnati Kid

Edward G. Robinson
as Lancey Howard

Tuesday Weld
as Christian

Karl Malden
as Shooter

Ann-Margret
as Melba

Joan Blondell
as Lady Fingers

Rip Torn
as Slade

Jack Weston
as Pig

Cab Calloway
as Yeller

Jeff Corey
as Hoban

Theodore Marcuse
as Felix

Milton Selzer
as Sokal

Karl Swenson
as Mr. Rudd

Émile Genest
as Cajun

Ron Soble
as Danny

Irene Tedrow
as Mrs. Rudd

Midge Ware
as Mrs. Slade

Dub Taylor
as Dealer

Joyce Perry
as Hoban's Wife

Claude Hall
as Gambler

Olan Soule
as Desk Clerk

Barry O'Hara
as Eddie

William Zuckert
as Poker Player

Pat McCaffrie
as Poker Player

John Hart
as Poker Player

Sandy Kevin
as Poker Player

Robert DoQui
as Philly

Hal Taggart
as Bettor

Andy Albin
as Referee

Howard Wendell
as Howard, Poker Player

Burt Mustin
as Old Man

William Challee
as Old Man

Charles Wagenheim
as Old Man

Gregg Martell
as Danny's Henchman

Donald Elson

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Critic Reviews for The Cincinnati Kid

Audience Reviews for The Cincinnati Kid

• Dec 09, 2016

  Steve McQueen is the young upstart poker player, Edward G. Robinson an old master, Karl Malden is their friend and dealer, Ann Margret his flirtatious girlfriend, and Tuesday Weld is McQueen's. It's a fantastic cast - McQueen oozes cool, it's special to see Robinson at age 72 deliver a very good performance, Malden plays 'conflicted' well when he's pressured to fix the match, Margret is sexy and has a way of speaking with her eyes, and Weld is incredibly cute but also nuanced. To top it off, Joan Blondell is the backup dealer, and while her role and performance aren't amazing, it's very nice to see her and Robinson together again nearly three decades after 1936's 'Bullets or Ballots'. New Orleans is a fantastic setting and director Norman Jewison makes good use of it. I have to say, I was not all that jazzed about the scene with the cock fight, which is cruel. And, he's less effective in making the movie feel as though it's in the 1930's, but maybe that doesn't matter. The poker talk at the tables is pretty authentic, but I always find it amusing that the 5-card stud hands shown routinely in movies are extremely rare. The ending comes as a jolt and seems abrupt, but perhaps that's because I was thinking how interesting it would have been if it was revealed that Robinson was engaged in a nefarious fix with Blondell. As it is, the movie is about integrity and dignity, even in what may seem to be an unlikely place, amongst gamblers. Cheating, and accusations of cheating, are shown more than once to be signs of weakness, whereas real skill is cool and confident, and there is mutual respect between McQueen and Robinson's characters. How interesting that McQueen falters on the relationship side by being seduced by Margret, though even then he doesn't deny it or make excuses. It may be a little clichéd and it may have borrowed its theme from 'The Hustler', but it's an engaging, interesting film.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Jan 19, 2013

  A little bit o'fun as McQueen leads a pretty gosh darn good cast in this typical tale of the kid against the powers that be. Eddie G.'s that power, the Man, the guy who's on top of the stud poker game and Stevie's set to take him down. Malden's good as the buddy, Weld as the good girl, and Margret as, what else, the bad girl, surprise.
  Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
• Apr 18, 2011

  What a classic! Right up there with "The Hustler" and "The Sting"..
  Sean G Super Reviewer
• Aug 29, 2008

  Good simple film about poker. It's great fun to watch McQueen and Edward G. play off each other. Nothing groundbreaking, but very entertaing with a great ending.
  cody f Super Reviewer

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