If you are a fan of Hollywood movies, there’s a good chance that you have already seen several gambling-themed ones. It seems that the movie industry loves making films that follow the lives of gamblers and their numerous adventures. No matter how much you think you know about gambling movies, there are always some things that can surprise you about them.
We thought that we knew everything, but we were still taken aback by some things we read in this Casino Sites’ infographic about the topic. So we have decided to share with you some of the least known facts about gambling movies that we’re sure will leave you speechless.
1. Ocean’s 11 Was Supposed to Be Black and White
Did you know that the initial idea for Ocean’s 11 was to film it using Black and White technology and make it a lot more artistic? This was how Steven Soderbergh, the director of the movie, imagined it at first. However, after some convincing and thinking through, he decided to change his mind and film the movie in color.
We’re sure that Ocean’s 11 would have become a blockbuster either way. Yet, we can’t help but think what this Hollywood masterpiece would look like if Soderbergh got the green light to proceed.
2. Brad Pitt vs. 40 Shrimp
Let’s remain on Ocean’s 11 for a little longer. Do you remember the scene where Rusty, portrayed by Brad Pitt, eats a shrimp cocktail? In our opinion, that was a fantastic scene. The reason why it was that good, was because it was filmed 40 times.
Consequently, Brad Pitt had to eat 40 shrimp until they managed to make the director happy with the end result. That tells a ton either about his love of shrimp or about his dedication to acting. Either way, he certainly didn’t need lunch after that.
3. Casino Royale Was Loved by the Chinese
The Chinese government does not think highly about Hollywood movies, especially those that are gambling-themed. They have strong censorship in place, which means that a lot of the movies that come from the USA are prohibited. James Bond movies are on this list, along with many others. However, even the Chinese government could not resist watching Casino Royale, which became the first James Bond movie to be approved by Chinese censors. As expected, Daniel Craig’s Bond debut was welcomed by the Chinese people and became a big hit.
4. Bill Clinton Almost Appeared in The Hangover
If you saw The Hangover, one of the best and most popular gambling-related movies, you know that most of the plot happens in Las Vegas. But, some scenes were also shot in Bangkok, where the film crew had a special guest.
Namely, Bill Clinton was present on the set in Bangkok and it was debated whether or not he should appear in one of the scenes. In the end, an agreement was made that that would not have been a good idea, as it would not have resonated well with some of the viewers, so he remained just a spectator.
5. Gambling Movies Are Very Unrealistic
It’s no secret that Hollywood likes to exaggerate a bit in order to make their movies more attractive to the general public. To be honest, gambling movies are often the most unrealistic ones in terms of how the characters and their gambling skills are portrayed.
The Hollywood gambler is usually some shady guy, who is always very charismatic, but is also often involved in some murky business. Therefore, the audience does not know whether they should love him or pity him. Moreover, the gambling skills in movies are shown as very unrealistic, as many of the feats would be impossible to reproduce in real life. Therefore, when you watch your next gambling movie, take everything that you see there with a grain of salt.
6. Gambling Movies Became Popular After WW2
Did you know that gambling was not a popular topic in the movies prior to WW2? Gambling was definitely popular before that, but it seems that there were more important topics to be explored by the film industry. As a matter of fact, only six gambling-related movies were filmed between 1908 and 1930.
When the WW2 was over, people obviously wanted to relax more and take their minds off any serious matter. Therefore, the popularity of both gambling movies and gambling as a hobby spiked. As a result, the gambling movie craze is still strong even today. It would be impossible to count how many such movies were made since WW2 until today, but we’re sure there are hundreds.
7. Movie-Themed Slot Machines Are Hot
The film industry and casinos have a strong relationship that goes both ways. Hollywood makes movies about the gambling industry, and the gambling industry makes slots and other casino games about popular films.
Players have nothing against it as it seems that movie-themed slot machines are very popular in both online and land-based casinos. Some of the most popular ones include those based on X-Men, Terminator 2, Rocky, Iron Man 2, Game of Thrones, The Hangover, and many more.
8. Gambling Movie Actors Love Gambling in Real Life
Gambling can be both a fun pastime and a serious problem, depending on how you approach it. A lot of actors who starred in gambling movies began gambling in real life as well. Some managed to keep it a fun hobby, whereas others turned it into a debilitating addiction. One such example is Ben Affleck, whose problems with gambling are well known to the public. He ended up in a big problem when he could not control his gambling passion and lost millions so far.
On the other hand, we can use George Clooney as a good example. He learned a lot about the gambling world while filming Ocean’s 11, and he decided to put his new knowledge to good use. He bought a casino resort in Las Vegas and became a successful entrepreneur.