The Gambler
“For $10,000 they break your arms. For $20,000 they break your legs. Axel Freed owes $44,000.”
Synopsis
New York City English professor Axel Freed outwardly seems like an upstanding citizen. But privately Freed is in the clutches of a severe gambling addiction that threatens to destroy him.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Cinématographe 4K UHD and Blu-ray Promo TrailerOfficial
Type: Teaser • Published 2026-01-05
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
James Caan
Axel
Paul Sorvino
Hips
Lauren Hutton
Billie
Morris Carnovsky
A. R. Lowenthal
Jacqueline Brookes
Naomi
Burt Young
Carmine
Carmine Caridi
Jimmy
Carl W. Crudup
Spencer
Stuart Margolin
Cowboy
Vic Tayback
One
Antonio Fargas
Pimp
William Andrews
Basketball Coach
Steven Keats
Howie
Starletta DuPois
Monique
James Woods
Bank Officer
London Lee
Monkey
M. Emmet Walsh
Las Vegas Gambler
Allan Rich
Bernie
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 2, 1974
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Karel Reisz
- Screenplay & Story
- James Toback
- Original Score
- Jerry Fielding
- Original Title
- The Gambler
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures, Winkler Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Karel Reisz
James Toback
Jerry Fielding
Victor J. Kemper
Roger Spottiswoode
Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Chartoff
Producer
Victor J. Kemper
Director of Photography
Jerry Fielding
Original Music Composer
Irwin Winkler
Producer
James Toback
Writer
Karel Reisz
Director
Albert Wolsky
Costume Design
Roger Spottiswoode
Editor
Philip Rosenberg
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Gambler.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Gambler.
Movies
Gangster
Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists
B Gardens
Full library from Vio, Sonarr, and Radarr - 9,053 items
This Week In Cinema History
A list of notable movies that premiered this week in history
Watch list 2026
Yahia watchlist
Similar Titles to The Gambler
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.7
5.9
7.4
7.4
6.2
7.4
7.1
5.7
7.3
7.0
4.9
4.6
7.0
8.1
7.4
6.0
6.5
More Like The Gambler
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Gambler
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Gambler about?
New York City English professor Axel Freed outwardly seems like an upstanding citizen. But privately Freed is in the clutches of a severe gambling addiction that threatens to destroy him.
Who directed The Gambler?
The Gambler was directed by Karel Reisz.
Who stars in The Gambler?
The principal cast of The Gambler includes James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky, Jacqueline Brookes.
When was The Gambler released and how long is it?
The Gambler was released in 1974 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for The Gambler?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Gambler was composed by Jerry Fielding.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Gambler?
The Gambler holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).