Browse films Rate it on NextFilm
Poster for The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
U
Unrated

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

1976 · 135 min

Crime, Drama, Thriller

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.

View on IMDb
Fast Slow
Dark Light

Appeals to viewers drawn to raw, morally compromised character studies where shabby nightlife, wounded pride, and uneasy human tenderness matter more than conventional suspense.

Tone
bleak, tense, melancholic
Payoff
catharsis, reflection
Pacing
slow-burn
Intensity
intense
Structure
linear
Themes
debt, coercion, loyalty, masculine pride, exploitation
Setting
1970s, seedy urban cabaret and clandestine gambling rooms

Content dimensions

No content ratings yet for this movie.

IMDb parental guide

Where to watch

Stream
HBO Max Amazon Channel
Criterion Channel
HBO Max
Rent
Apple TV Store
Amazon Video
Fandango At Home
Buy
Apple TV Store
Amazon Video
Fandango At Home
Provided by JustWatch JustWatch Logo