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Atlantic City Jackpot

1975, Movie, R, 90 mins

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Chuck Workman, famous for making briskly paced Hollywood documentaries, directed this crime drama, whose greatest achievement is preserving images of Atlantic City and Manhattan in the 1970s. When he isn’t sponging off unwary women, New Jersey con artist Roland (Graham Beckel) runs low-rent scams like ripping off a Boardwalk chuck-a-luck vendor. His sketchy escapades are the antithesis of moderately successful, morally compromised businessman Richard Banks (Laurence Luckinbill), who hopes his pending skyscraper deal will make him a millionaire. Richard's ex-wife, Ellen (Elizabeth Richards), has made it clear that she's not going to bail him out, Richard ignores his partner's advice to declare bankruptcy and recover their original investment. The paths of white-collar charlatan and street hustler intersect when Roland's girlfriend, Lucy (Regina Baff), begins babysitting for Ellen and Richard's two children. Roland accompanies his clueless girlfriend to Ellen's swank home, and his eyes widen with dollar signs: Thinking on his feet, Roland drugs Lucy, grabs the children and later phones with a ransom demand. The desperate Ellen gives Richard carte blanche to cash in some bonds for the pay-off, but Richard can't bring himself to waste all that capital and jeopardizes his children's safety by trying to make a deal with Roland. If Richard can persuade Roland to take only a portion of the ransom, he might be able to clinch his real estate transaction. But Roland's street savvy just might triumph over Richard's country club Machiavelianism. Undermined by irritating performances from the female leads, this obscure picture is notable primarily for pre-stardom appearances by Danny DeVito and Tony Award-winning Broadway star George Hearn. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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