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Poster for The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

Seen it?

1976 | 135 min | Thriller, Crime, Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (79% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Cotton Club, start here.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 15 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • Made in 1976: an older pace and style.

Cosmo Vittelli, the proprietor of a sleazy, low-rent Hollywood cabaret, has a real affection for the women who strip in his peepshows and the staff who keep up his dingy establishment. He also has a major gambling problem that has gotten him in trouble before. When Cosmo loses big-time at an underground casino run by mobster Mort, he isn't able to pay up. Mort then offers Cosmo the chance to pay back his debt by knocking off a pesky, Mafia-protected bookie.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.0 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 85K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by John Cassavetes

  • Ben GazzaraCosmo Vittelli
  • Timothy CareyFlo
  • Seymour CasselMort Weil
  • Robert PhillipsPhil
  • Morgan WoodwardThe Boss
  • Al RubanMarty Reitz
  • Azizi JohariRachel
  • HajiHaji
  • Alice FriedlandSherry
  • Derna WyldeDerna