MovieChat Forums > The Gambler (1975) Discussion > Was the Gambler naive?

Was the Gambler naive?

posted 15 years ago by OldHector
6 replies | jump to latest

Saw the film last night, and appreciated the comments on another thread about the ending.

The Gambler displays his compulsive behaviour by not being able to have some money and not lay a bet at the same time. His mother bails him out, but instead of settling his debts and getting the mob off his back he lays 3 bets on the results of 3 basket ball games. He is amazed later in the film to discover that all three games went the other way, and he loses all his money. To compound his problems he lays even more money on another surefire bet.

Later in the film he is able to save his skin by convincing one of his students, a gifted college basket ball player, to rig the result of the game in exchange for a bribe.

Does he realise that he has been naive all along in thinking that there was any skill in picking the results of the games, and that he has finally realised that the mob are fixing the games in response to the bets that are being laid?

My feeling was that he felt there was something 'glorious' in the buzz of using his skill to gamble, and feel the excitement of the risks he was taking. However if the games were just being rigged depending on the bets then there was no skill and his whole reasoning was invalid, making a nonsense of his beliefs.

Any views?

Rich

[–] fzappa711 15 years ago

Coming from a long time gambler, and a consistantly losing one at that (especially on sports bets), I can offer only my own feelings. Yes I know it is futile to try picking the results of these sports events, but yet I still try my luck week after week. There are actually some people who can make a living at gambling (sports betting only, forget the casino games, the odds are always against the player), but it is very few, and requires a lot of numbers crunching and a lot more work than most people would think. For the average gambler, this is not worth the time and trouble. Personally, I enjoy the high of wagering on an unknown event. The risk is what gives me the high. Of course it's nice to pat yourself on the back after you checked some stats out and made a winning bet based on that, and also nice when you get paid out, but I think the real enjoyment for me is the risk. No risk, no reward. Like James Caan says in the movie, if all his bets were safe (i.e. rigged) there just wouldn't be any juice (i.e. excitement).

[–] buby1987 15 years ago

I don't think Axel is naive, he's actually very smart. He knows what the odds are. But he enjoys the adrenaline rush of gambling what he can't afford to lose. I also think that he is trying to destroy himself -- both on a conscious and unconscious level. That is why he is not truly satisfied -- with a grin on his face -- until he examine the slash mark on his face at the end.

As for real-life gamblers who actually make a living from betting on sports, those guys are risk-averse. They study the games and crunch the numbers, and try to make reasonable wagers. I knew a guy who made a lot on baseball back in the 80's and 90's, but he stayed away from football. He was good with numbers and utterly logical, and he hated betting on long shots. He was the antithesis of Axel, who has deeper issues that find an outlet in the dangerous world of gambling.

[–] candidstay 15 years ago

fluffer

You said exactly what I was thinking.

I think he had a compulsive disease such as a alcoholic who can't stop drinking.. he could not stop gambling. Compulsive problem.

[–] montrossboc-1 11 years ago

My father was a compulsive gambler, and when I was in my late teens I watched some situations that a son should not see his dad in, as far as witnessing some of his father's low points in life.

My first official act as an adult (that was turning 18 back in 1968) was to co-sign a loan for my father.

But my father was not like Axel, as my father just liked the action, and just wanted to have enough money to continue gambling. He borrowed from every shylock in the neighborhood, but I don't remember him ever being threatened. That could partially have been because he grew up from childhood with most of the shylocks.

The best streak my father ever had was when my oldest brother was seven (that would be 1944), and my father let him (my then 7 year old beother Joe) pick 3-team parlays in college basketball. My old man hit these parlays 8 weeks in a row, and with the winnings he took what family he had then on a great summer vacation.

But my dad was not like Axel. Axel was on a self- destructive, no one here gets out alive self-induced path. Axel could have never have won enough money. It wasn't about the money. It was about the risk, the razors-edge living. That's what sustained him, until he put himself in the risky situation where he actually got a taste of the razors-edge. Unfortunately, in the movie, we just don't know where Axel's next steps take him

Short Cut, Draw Blood

[–] Milkdoesabodygood 10 years ago

It's a sickness y'all, it really is like drugs, drinking, etc.

Uh baby U 4got to pull out. 9 months later, can U pull this "bleep" baby outta me, do that @ least!

[–] henrimaine 9 years ago

the mob are fixing the games in response to the bets that are being laid

Why do you think the mob was fixing the games James Caan was betting on? Sure, the mob fixed the last basketball game, but I didn't see much reason to assume the earlier games were also fixed.