The first Italian movie can be traced back to 1896 and was created soon
after motion picture exhibitions began. Since then, Italian cinema has
developed its own style, taking influence from, and influencing the large
studios in Hollywood and the rest of the world. Throughout, the influence
of gambling has always been a key theme, allowing a narrative that is
dramatic, exciting, and filled with chance. Below we discuss the three
best casino movies in Italian cinema.
La Città Gioca d’Azzardo
Translated to Gambling City, this movie is a 1975 heist film by Sergio
Martin. This movie follows the exploits of Luca Altieri, card player
extraordinaire. After conducting a heist at the high-stakes poker table,
he enters into a love triangle with a mafia boss's son and his feisty
girlfriend. It is a great snapshot of Milan in the seventies, with its
hustle, bustle, and dangerous undercurrents.
It is a classic example of Poliziotteschi, the Italian subgenre of crime
and action films influenced by the seventies Hollywood classics being made
at the time. With their Italian influence and lilt, they became extremely
popular but faded out in the late seventies. Unfortunately, few of these
movies are made now as Italian casinos are now much more modern affairs
and many of them can be easily accessed online. Blackjack is one of the
favored table games in the country, and sites such as
Casino777
have sprung up with a wide range of games to cater to this. Anyone
visiting the country can now easily access multi-hand games and live
versions. Many of them also have attractive welcome bonuses for new
players.
La Prima Notte Di Quiete
Known as Indian Summer in English, this movie is a gentle romantic drama
from 1972. Daniele Dominici is both a card player and a professor of
Poetry. When he arrives in the tourist town of
Rimini,
he gets a four-month contract to teach. As his relationship with his
partner breaks down, he spends more time playing cards and gambling until
he meets one of his friend's girlfriends, Vanina, and falls madly in love
with her.
The movie is a fantastic example of classic cinematography from the
decade and provides a great portrait of a man finding himself. A joint
French production, it was a minor hit there but was hugely successful in
Italy where it has remained one of the timeless classics.
Pari e Dispari
Odds and Evens is one of many great Terence Hill and Bud Spencer comedy
capers. It follows the exploits of two brothers, known as Charlie and
Johnny Firpo. When racing driver Johnny has his speedboat tampered with,
the pair discover a group of gamblers who are responsible and uncover
their plot to misle the fortunes of gamblers in the area.
The film was a roaring hit in Italy, coming only behind Amori Miei in the
popularity stakes that year. Internationally, it was awarded a Golden
Screen Award along with
Warner Brothers
Superman and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
With a resurgence in funding and popularity, Italian cinema is producing
new hits all the time. Keep up to date on your movie news and look out for
exciting world cinema like this on our website.