Ante up

"The Cincinnati Kid" (1965)

The movie: Steve McQueen stars as a talented upstart determined to outwit cigar-chomping poker veteran Lancey Howard (Edward G. Robinson).

Game of choice: Stud poker, naturally (What other kind of poker would Steve McQueen play?)

Winning or losing hand?: This worthy inclusion in the recently issued Steve McQueen Collection DVD box set bluffs its way to a victory, overcoming a thin, formulaic narrative with uniformly fine performances (McQueen is at his most iconic, and Rip Torn is a supporting standout as an oily fixer). Director Norman Jewison keeps the poker showdowns moving at a fast clip and gets the most out of the film's atmospheric New Orleans locations.