Cinema: Mixed Deal

The Cincinnati Kid is Steve McQueen, cast as a cool, professional poker player with his eye on the long chance. Under a circle of light in a smoke-clogged New Orleans hotel room, The Kid sweats it out with a full house while The Man (Edward G. Robinson) ups the stakes on what may or may not be a straight flush. The pot runs to thousands, but this game means more than money. The Man is Lancey Howard, undisputed king of stud poker for more than 30 years, and he knows that the crusty young challenger across the baize means to gut...

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