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This special limited edition J-card MediaBook slipcase (designed by Vlad Rodriguez) is limited to 5,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them. (Note: this Limited Edition includes a 60 page booklet)
Note: this release is available to be purchased on its own, or bundled with a pair of The Gambler-themed Cinématographe stickers. This Limited Edition Slipcase + Stickers bundle is limited to 275 units. (sticker sizes: 3.5" x 2.5" rectangle / 3" x 3" circle) - (Sold Out)
Taking its name from the Lumière Brothers invention of the same name, Cinématographe is a new sub-label from Vinegar Syndrome that seeks to fill gaps in the canon of American cinema. Offering a mix of auteur driven studio films produced during the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and 70s all the way through the indie boom of the 1980s and 90s, Cinématographe will explore the wide breadth of American moviemaking, spanning numerous genres and scales of production. Curated and produced by Vinegar Syndrome's Justin LaLiberty, each limited edition release will be housed in a specially designed, cloth-bound, media book with embossed foil titles and custom molded disc trays accompanied by a slipcase featuring newly commissioned art and an individually numbered J-card.
New York City professor Axel Freed (James Caan, The Godfather) is in crippling debt due to gambling addiction. He owes over forty thousand dollars to his bookie Hips (Paul Sorvino, Goodfellas), who has mob connections and threatens violence against Axel if he doesn’t pay his debts. Managing to borrow enough money from his mother to pay what he owes, Axel flees town with his girlfriend Billie (Lauren Hutton, American Gigolo) for Las Vegas, which thrusts him back into the world of gambling, resulting in an anxiety-inducing spiral of unpaid debts, violence and despair.
The American debut for Czech born, British filmmaker Karel Reisz (Saturday Night, Sunday Morning), The Gambler is a now iconic entry in the pantheon of crime cinema of the 1970s. Featuring a manic, career defining, performance from James Caan accompanied by stunning on location photography from cinematographer Victor J. Kemper (Dog Day Afternoon), production design by Philip Rosenberg (All That Jazz), and palpably tense editing work from future filmmaker Roger Spottiswoode (Under Fire), Reisz’s film is one of the great American films of the New Hollywood era. Cinématographe is proud to present The Gambler in a new 4K restoration for its world UHD debut.
directed by: Karel Reisz
starring: James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Burt Young, Antonio Fargas, Morris Carnovsky
1974 / 111 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD MA 1.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.87234 / 5 from 188 reviews.
The Gambler's limited edition MediaBook slipcase, featuring a new 4K restoration, has received high praise for its presentation and definitive release. Customers appreciate the stunning packaging and the exceptional performance by James Caan. Additional features include new audio commentaries, video essays, and interviews, enhancing the overall value of this release.
Review topics: ["colors","support","quality","picture","looks","packaging","box","set","sound","upgrade","detail","work","effort","buy","film","movie","release","performances","caan","transfer","edition","restoration","gambler","essays","features","presentation","gem","characters","extras","watch"].
"Incredible film. James Caan's portrayal of Axel, a compulsive gambler is so convincing. He's almost hypnotic to watch in those moments where he's up and not down. His and Lauren Hutton's chemistry together really shines. The last scene of this is almost disorienting in a way. Just to see Axel go through so much at this point. Love the poetic justice of it all."
"Man James Caan is so good in this, it makes you miss him and his charisma and presence. I had the Imprint Blu Ray but this is a total upgrade filled to the brim with special features. Picture quality looks great and the booklet is filled with great behind the scenes information."
"I find it odd that films like this rarely end up on cable or even the studios' streaming service. The same 20-30 films get cycled through their respective platforms, yet little known gems like these fall by the wayside. Thank you to the Cinematographie team for not only introducing us to this, but giving us the absolute best quality you could ever hope for."
"Films such as this are a constant reminder of the world that once was, the world we pine for, the world that made films that mattered and pushed boundaries. The packaging is absolutely incredible, and the film is reference quality. what else is there to be said."
"James Caan chewing scenery has never looked this sharp. The new restoration is loaded with fine detail — clothing texture, casino interiors, all of it — with rock-solid blacks and zero crush. Minor specks of damage pop up here and there but nothing that takes you out of it. The mono track is clean and lets Jerry Fielding's score breathe without burying any dialogue. This is one of the standout releases of the bunch — reviewers are basically falling over themselves calling the A/V presentation fantastic. Same gorgeous cloth-bound MediaBook packaging as the other Cinématographe titles, with a booklet stuffed with essays from a handful of respected film critics. A genuine sleeper hit of a release."
"The Gambler in 4k! the late James caan is a brilliant actor. Great movie. Must see"
"One of James Caans very best films and thats saying something! An absolute masterpiece given the deluxe treatment it so rightly deserves, the transfer is stunning."
"Good movie, wasn't a huge fan of the ending but enjoyed nonetheless. Looks and sounds great"
"Great release and movie with nice packingg and transfer."
"James Caan is amazing in his portrayal of a gambling addict"
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