Few names embody classic American cinema the way Hollywood legendsDean MartinandRobert Mitchumdo. Both had long winding roads to stardom. Before portraying the charming drunk, Dude, inRio Bravoand becoming a comedic icon, a renowned crooner, and a Hollywood leading man,Martin worked various unconventional jobs, including bootlegging and gambling. Mitchum,on his part, persisted through a string of B-movies in which he portrayed nondescript characters that sometimes he wasn’t credited for,served jail time, and faced insurmountable personal turmoil. He got his breakthrough roles in films likeOut of the PastandThe Night of the Hunter,that sped up hisjourneytoward having his star embedded on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard. Despite their similar not-so-rosy beginnings, they climbed to the uppermost echelon as leading men of the small and big screens.
The two legends would team up inHenry Hathaway’s 1968 underrated Western mystery film5 Card Stud. The film is based on a novel byRay Gauldenand a screenplay byMarguerite Roberts, who also collaborated with the director forTrue Grit, which earned John Wayne his only Oscar. Roberts' writing is nothing short of genius. She combines witty dialogue and incorporates clever situations that effortlessly move the plot forward. Together, Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum bring to5 Card Studa dynamic that offers a movie ripe with suspense, shootouts, and a slow-burn tension that hooks you from the start. It is a cowboy movie that mashes-up genres, with romance and whodunit psychological intrigue elements fusing with classic Western themes like revenge and frontier justice.
‘5 Card Stud’ Unites Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum as a Gambler and a Preacher in a Deadly Poker Game
5 Card Studkicks off with a poker game that goes south fast. Martin plays Van Morgan, a gambler with more than his fair share of grit. Morgan’s group of seven gamblers sets the film in motion when one of them is caught cheating, and the group, despite Morgan’s protests, resorts to vigilante justice by stringing him up. The situation shifts when, one by one, the gamblers start turning up dead in near similar circumstances. With death seemingly closer and closer to Morgan, as he figures out their relationship to the initial lynching, he decides to investigate. From playing poker, the film morphs into a psychological game with growing mistrust among the gamblers.5 Card Studwouldn’t be complete withoutpaying homage to"The King of Cool". It adorns Martin’s charming personality with romantic sub-plots for his womanising character, making the filma perfect cocktail of action, romance, psychological tension, and a twist.
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Meanwhile, Mitchum’s Reverend Rudd has just joined the town. He is an unconventional gun-toting preacher with impeccable shooting abilities and a penchant for saloons. Reverend Rudd’s introductory speech to a group of revelers at a saloon states how his church, like the Lord it represents, welcomes all kinds of people, to which one patron replies that he would join because he perfectly fits Rudd’s criteria, stating,“I am the dirtiest, drunkest, most sinful fellow the Lord ever saw.“Apart from the comical relief it brings, is it an ironical line with a deeper meaning? In the action scenes, Roberts' memorable dark humor includes Rudd hiding his gun in a hole made between bible pages. With the puzzle of the murders that are piling up, even Rudd, with his strict moral compass, is not off the hook of Morgan’s suspicion.Staying true to his strong on-screen partnerships, Martin’s collaboration with Mitchum creates a dynamic and engaging viewer experience.
‘5 Card Stud’ Is a Genre Mash-Up That Utilizes its Stars' Strengths
At its core,5 Card Studis aWestern shootout frenzy, but this isn’t the only genre present in the movie. It builds up slowly by employing psychological mystery, suspense, and film noir elements to great effect.Hathaway’s direction is a skillful balance of classic Western tropes with an Alfred Hitchcock-esque murder mystery.With several genres at the forefront, Martin and Mitchum’s acting range is put to the test. Still,5 Card Studplaces Martin in a familiar, playful, romantic situation, where his charm and sophistication shine. One of his soon-to-be lovers, in another quotable line from the film, describes Morgan as “a man, which is no recommendation, and a gambler, which is less,” but she gives in to his approaches to find out for herself.
Known for his menacing screen presence and excelling in film noir roles, Robert Mitchum’s portrayal of Reverend Rudd provides perfect contrast to Martin’s gambler Morgan. His large physique and an unsettling calm demeanor make Reverend Rudd both a figure of authority and suspicion. The two complete the picture of a dynamic duo on the big screen. If you enjoy Westerns, mysteries, or simply great acting,5 Card Studis an underrated gem worth discovering.
5 Card Stud
In the film 5 Card Stud (1968), a poker game in a Western town takes a deadly turn as its players are mysteriously murdered one by one. Suspicion and fear escalate among the remaining players, prompting a determined investigation to unveil the hidden motives behind the killings.
5 Card Studis available to stream on Hoopla in the U.S.
