A Review of Poker Movies

Many people have many misconceptions about Poker. There is a stereotype of Poker players as being squirrelly introverts tucked away in dimly lit rooms. In reality, Poker actually has somewhat of a storied history. Indeed, Poker has been featured predominately in Poker films and Poker movies through the years.

Through this article, a reader is provided a review of some of the Poker movies that have lit up the silver screen through the years. By way of this article, a reader will be able to come to an understanding of the powerful role that Poker has played throughout the years.

According to Poker film aficionados, there are three films that have had a tremendous impact on the entire Poker film genre. These films trace the presence of Poker movies that have appeared on the silver screen since the birth of the film. These films are

Poker Fever (Soviet Union 1925)
Brainwashed (Germany 1960)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (U.S.A. 2001)

Poker Fever is a 28 minute silent film produced in the Soviet Union. Poker film analysts consider this piece of film to be one of the best depictions of the game of Poker of all time. They contend that the film goes beyond merely showing a couple of people playing the game. In the short, silent film, the passion that Poker players have for the game is clearly brought to the front. Indeed, the film is said to convey the addictive nature of the game of Poker.

Brainwashed

Brainwashed (which was originally titled Die Schachnovelle) is a very dramatic work. The film is based on the novella written by Stefan Zweig. The novella itself actually was published in 1944 after the author of the work and his wife committed suicide. Many people considered the novella to be a perfect foundation upon which a Poker film could be built.

Most people do consider the novella to be the best written piece of fiction about Poker of all time. The novella became a Poker movie in 1960. This Poker film tells the story of a man’s slow descent into insanity while imprisoned and tortured in Nazi occupied Vienna during the Second World War. The film centers around the man’s connection to the game of Poker, perhaps his only relief in an otherwise horrific existence.

The game of Poker played a fairly significant role in the 2001 film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Indeed, this film perhaps presented the game of Poker to the broadest possible audience of any of the Poker movies or movies that have included Poker in their plots that have been released since the birth of the motion picture. This film was one of the most widely released and viewed motion pictures of all time. Indeed, as a Poker movie or a Poker film, this movie exposed more people to Poker in film fashion than any other production.

Of course, there are dozens of other films that feature Poker in their plots (and in their themes). The dynamics of Poker likely will continue to form a basis for character and plot development and as a foundation for thematic expression in films well into the future.