Haus der Spiele

Originaltitel: House of Games

1987
16
1 Std. 42 Min.

IMDb-BEWERTUNG

7,2/10

24.747

IHRE BEWERTUNG

Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna in Haus der Spiele (1987)

trailer wiedergeben2:06

1 Video

91 Fotos

Crime Drama Thriller

Ein Psychiater kommt einem zwanghaften Spieler zu Hilfe und wird von einem aalglatten Trickbetrüger in die zwielichtige, aber fesselnde Welt der Tricks, Gaunereien und Schwindler eingeführt.Ein Psychiater kommt einem zwanghaften Spieler zu Hilfe und wird von einem aalglatten Trickbetrüger in die zwielichtige, aber fesselnde Welt der Tricks, Gaunereien und Schwindler eingeführt.Ein Psychiater kommt einem zwanghaften Spieler zu Hilfe und wird von einem aalglatten Trickbetrüger in die zwielichtige, aber fesselnde Welt der Tricks, Gaunereien und Schwindler eingeführt.

Siehe Produktionsinformationen bei IMDbPro

IMDb-BEWERTUNG

7,2/10

24.747

IHRE BEWERTUNG

Siehe Produktionsinformationen bei IMDbPro

Auszeichnungen
- 6 Gewinne & 5 Nominierungen insgesamt

Wissenswertes
Ricky Jay was a sleight-of-hand artist and an acknowledged authority on the art of the con. In an NPR interview, Jay related that when David Mamet needed a short-change scam to be explained in the movie, he asked Jay for details of an authentic short-change hustle. However, Jay did not want to betray the confidence of the hustlers he knew who still used various short-change cons for their "livelihood". The envelope switch seen in the final film is an original switch invented by Jay specially for the film. Later, it was reported that an amateur thief had been caught attempting to use the switch as he had learned it from the film.

Patzer
Margaret Ford takes her smokes from a package of unfiltered "stubby" Camels, but the actual cigarettes she uses are longer (probably Pall Malls) so they'll "read" better on screen.

Zitate
Joey: The bitch is a booster.
Mike: The bitch is a born thief, man.
Mr. Dean: So, you had her made from the jump?
Mike: I'm tellin' ya. A ton of fuckin' bricks! Show me some REAL con-men.
Joey: Yeah, we showed her some con-men.
Mike: We showed her some DINOSAUR con-men. Some old style.
Joey: Yes, sir.
Mike: Years from now, they're gonna have to go to a museum to see a frame like this.
Joey: That's right.
Mr. Dean: Took her money and screwed her, too.
Mike: A small price to pay.

Verbindungen
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Surrender/Someone to Watch Over Me/Dancers/House of Games/Maurice (1987)

Soundtracks
Fugue
From "Toccata in C Minor (BWV 911)"
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Warren Bernhardt (piano)
[Played during both the opening and end credits]

Benutzerrezensionen155

Ausgewählte Rezension

8/10

Riveting, disturbing... near-flawless psychological suspense

If your idea of a thriller is car chases, explosions, and dozens of people being mowed down by gunfire, then "House of Games" is definitely not the movie for you. If you like and appreciate psychological drama and suspense, then, by all means, see it.

"House of Games" tells the story of an esteemed psychologist and writer, Dr. Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse), who tries to help a patient and gets involved in the shadowy world of con men led by the charismatic Mike (Joe Mantegna). To say anything more about the plot would ruin the suspense. Frankly, I find it hard to believe anyone who says they saw the twists coming. Just like a clever con artist, this movie draws you into its web and lulls your vigilance.

The story is taut and well-crafted, the dialogue smart and laconic, the acting uniformly good (Mantegna is superbly charismatic). Some have complained that Dr. Ford is not a very sympathetic character, and wondered why Mamet would make Lindsay Crouse look so physically unattractive. But Dr. Ford is supposed to be cold and aloof; moreover, her homeliness is in a way essential to the plot (at one point, I believe that an injury to her sexual self-esteem is a key part of her motivation ... I'll say no more).

"House of Games" is a dark look at the underside of human nature that concludes on a note of discomforting ambiguity. It will hold your attention every second while you are watching, and stay with you for a long time afterwards.