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IMDbPro

House of Games

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
23K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,412
2,093
Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna in House of Games (1987)
Trailer for this suspense thriller
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
91 Photos
CrimeThriller
A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
23K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,412
2,093
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writers
      • David Mamet(screenplay)
      • Jonathan Katz(story)
    • Stars
      • Lindsay Crouse
      • Joe Mantegna
      • Mike Nussbaum
    Top credits
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writers
      • David Mamet(screenplay)
      • Jonathan Katz(story)
    • Stars
      • Lindsay Crouse
      • Joe Mantegna
      • Mike Nussbaum
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 145User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    House of Games
    Trailer 2:06
    House of Games

    Photos91

    House of Games (1987)
    House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna in House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna in House of Games (1987)
    House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse in House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse in House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse in House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse and Karen Kohlhaas in House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna in House of Games (1987)
    Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, and Ricky Jay in House of Games (1987)
    Joe Mantegna in House of Games (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lindsay Crouse
    Lindsay Crouse
    • Margaret Ford
    Joe Mantegna
    Joe Mantegna
    • Mike
    Mike Nussbaum
    Mike Nussbaum
    • Joey
    Lilia Skala
    Lilia Skala
    • Dr. Littauer
    J.T. Walsh
    J.T. Walsh
    • The Businessman
    Willo Hausman
    • Girl with Book
    Karen Kohlhaas
    • Prison Ward Patient
    Steven Goldstein
    Steven Goldstein
    • Billy Hahn
    • (as Steve Goldstein)
    Jack Wallace
    Jack Wallace
    • Bartender (House of Games)
    Ricky Jay
    Ricky Jay
    • George (Vegas Man)
    G. Roy Levin
    • Poker Player
    Bob Lumbra
    • Poker Player
    Andy Potok
    • Poker Player
    Allen Soule
    • Poker Player
    Ben Blakeman
    • Bartender (Charlie's Tavern)
    Scott Zigler
    • Western Union Clerk
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Sgt. Moran
    • (as W.H. Macy)
    John Pritchett
    • Hotel Desk Clerk
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writers
      • David Mamet(screenplay) (story)
      • Jonathan Katz(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      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 you see 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.
    • Goofs
      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.
    • Quotes

      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.

    • Connections
      Featured in At 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]

    User reviews145

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Great story. Acting style is a big turn off
    Found the story very engaging and although I saw some of the twists coming, there were enough surprises to keep my attention.

    One thing I can not seem to get past is the acting. Apparently this is something that is part of Mamet's style but it just comes across as awful. A more orthodox approach to the performances would have elevated this film from good to great.
    helpful•8
    0
    • Lord_of_the_Things
    • May 5, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • House of Cards
    • Filming locations
      • Seattle, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • Filmhaus
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,585,639
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $116,677
      • Oct 18, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,585,639
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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