There is something about this glamorous game that captured the hearts and minds of people from the moment of its debut, and although we have certainly come a long way from the year it was invented by Blaise Pascal, 1655, the world continues its love affair with this iconic casino game. Of course, the fact that it gets represented so frequently in some of the best movies ever made doesn’t hurt either, and this list outlines the very best of these for your browsing pleasure:
Casablanca (1942)
Humphrey Bogart plays Rick, the owner of a café, and the fact that he fixes the roulette table so that his former love and her current husband are able to win the money they need still stands as one of the most romantic gestures of all time.
The couple are looking for letters of transit in order to travel to America as they flee for safety, and this gamble is their final shot at outsmarting a corrupt chief of police and get hold of safe passage. In the classic scene it is prearranged that the husband will win on 22, which allows him to save his marriage and his wife.
Croupier (1998)
The title of this film is a clear indication that a good roulette scene or two will make an appearance, and Croupier does not disappoint. It is a film noir interpretation of life in a casino based in London from the perspective of a dealer played by Clive Owen. We view the crushing losses and inimitable corruption of the gambling scene, but the movie does not merely depict the dark side of this business. The audience is also able to enjoy the Owen character’s thrilling, high-adrenaline nights in the casino as he chases stories in his attempt to become a writer.
Run Lola Run (1998)
As one of the quickest redheads in recent film history, Lola, a young German woman, takes on a thrill-ride in this fast-paced, action-packed thriller. She has a mere 20 minutes to find 100 000 deutschmarks in order to stop her boyfriend from robbing a store, and the film follows her attempts to do so. The movie has a selection of possible endings in place, and it isn’t until the last segment that she triumphs at the roulette wheel with a big bet on number 20, and emits what is possibly the loudest scream in the history of the game!
Of course the convenience of internet-based games like the online roulette Canada and the rest of the world has to offer would have simplified things, but then a remarkable film would’ve fallen by the wayside.
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Although not your typical roulette wheel, the fact that this casino game has even made it through to children’s movies proves the widespread appeal it has always had. As the bets start going south on the evil bear, the friendly banter turns to terrible taunts, as the wagers are laid with batteries on an old See ‘n’ Say standing in for the wheel.
California Split (1974)
The plot hops from casino to casino in total chaos as the characters played by Elliot Gould and George Segal try to take in all the sights and sounds of the world of gambling. California Split depicts a more realistic roulette game than most films end up doing, and, as a result, this 1970s classic can deliver an excellent all-round education on gambling for interested parties!
