The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)

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.

Directed by: John Cassavetes

Written by: John Cassavetes

Music by: Bo Harwood

Starring: Ben Gazzara, Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassel, Robert Phillips, Morgan Woodward, Al Ruban, Azizi Johari, Haji, Alice Friedland, Derna Wylde

Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama

Released: 1976-02-15

Runtime: 135 minutes

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The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976): trivia & fun facts

Fun facts

• Cassavetes and Martin Scorsese came up with the idea for the film together in one night, and Cassavetes then further developed it on his own, inspired by Arthur Penn's movie Mickey One, The Family Rico, and Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky.
• The 1978 version is the one that has been in general release since that time, though both versions of the film were issued in The Criterion Collection's John Cassavetes: Five Films box set, marking the first appearance of the 1976 version since its original release.
• Timothy Carey, Seymour Cassel, Morgan Woodward, Meade Roberts, and Azizi Johari appear in supporting roles.

Source: Wikipedia

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