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Drama Cult Classic

Small-town gambler J.C. Cullen bets everything in 1957 Chicago’s high-stakes underworld.

THE BIG TOWN

Lady luck is always on his side. Tonight, she's on fire.

1987 · 1h 49m · R · Drama / Romance · IMDB TMDB

It is 1957. J.C. Cullen is a young man from a small town, with a talent for winning at craps, who leaves for the big city to work as a professional gambler. While there, he breaks the bank at a private craps game at the Gem Club, owned by George Cole, and falls in love with two women, one of them Cole's wife.

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Quick Answer

What is The Big Town about?

The Big Town is a 1987 American drama and romance film directed by Ben Bolt about J.C. Cullen, a small-town crapshooter who heads to Chicago in 1957 to seek his fortune, only to become entangled with a pair of high-rolling gamblers, two complicated women, and a dangerous feud.

Programmer's Pick

The Big Town isn’t just another coming-to-the-city story; it stacks the deck with 1950s Chicago grit, dice-table tension, and a love triangle (or is that quadrangle?) that knows no cooling-off period. Come for Matt Dillon’s cool hand, stay for Diane Lane’s heat and Tommy Lee Jones’s menace.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Set in 1957, The Big Town follows J.C. Cullen, a talented young crapshooter who leaves his quiet hometown behind to seek opportunity as a professional gambler in Chicago. Once there, he finds himself manipulated by Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, a pair of seasoned gamblers eager to test his luck – and perhaps use it for their own ends. As Cullen tries to stake his claim, he becomes swept up in a revenge plot engineered by Lorry Dane, the embittered wife of strip club owner George Cole. Things spiral as he juggles passionate affairs with both Dane and the wholesome Aggie Donaldson, while his winnings and life are put on the line by a brewing feud between the Edwards, Cole, and Phil Carpenter.

Details & Specs

Director
Ben Bolt
Writers
Robert Roy Pool, Clark Howard
Release
1987
Runtime
1h 49m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Drama, Romance

Why This Matters

This neo-noir thriller features a notable cast including Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, and Tommy Lee Jones, and was directed by Ben Bolt with uncredited work by Harold Becker, reflecting collaborative and behind-the-scenes dynamics in 1980s American genre filmmaking.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Ben Bolt Writers: Robert Roy Pool +1 more
Matt Dillon Matt Dillon J.C. Cullen Diane Lane Diane Lane Lorry Dane Tommy Lee Jones Tommy Lee Jones George Cole Bruce Dern Bruce Dern M. Edwards Lee Grant Lee Grant Ferguson Edwards Tom Skerritt Tom Skerritt Phil Carpenter Suzy Amis Suzy Amis Aggie Donaldson David Marshall Grant David Marshall Grant Sonny Binkley Don Francks Don Francks Carl Hooker Del Close Del Close Deacon Daniels MH Meg Hogarth Dorothy Cullen Cherry Jones Cherry Jones Ginger McDonald AD Alvaro D'Antonio Prager David James Elliott David James Elliott Cool Guy SY Steve Yorke Garage Boy Chris Owens Chris Owens Garage Boy Sean McCann Sean McCann Roy McMullin KF Kevin Fox Boss's Son Marc Strange Marc Strange Madigan Don Lake Don Lake Patsy Fuqua AR Angelo Rizacos Harold CB Chris Benson Shooter Gary Farmer Gary Farmer Duke Diego Matamoros Diego Matamoros Sid Sarah Polley Sarah Polley Christy Donaldson Kirsten Bishop Kirsten Bishop Adele Kenneth McGregor Kenneth McGregor Bartender VM Viki Matthews Gem Club Dancer CM Cherie McGroarty Gem Club Dancer SC Sandy Czapiewski Gem Club Dancer MS Marie Siebert Gem Club Dancer Julie Conte Julie Conte Gem Club Dancer A.C. Peterson A.C. Peterson Doorman Sam Malkin Sam Malkin Bernstein RM Robert Morelli Sideburns Layne Coleman Layne Coleman Murphy Lolita Davidovich Lolita Davidovich Black Lace Stripper WC William Colgate Gem Club Gambler WF William Forrest MacDonald Gem Club Gambler Len Doncheff Len Doncheff Gem Club Gambler Michael Caruana Michael Caruana Gem Club Gambler RC Richard Comar Gem Club Gambler Lubomir Mykytiuk Lubomir Mykytiuk Gem Club Gambler RR Robert Ramsay Collins Gem Club Gambler ES Errol Slue Friendly Guy GP Gerry Pearson Baptist Preacher HD Hugo Dann Elmo John Evans John Evans Marvin Brown JW J. Winston Carroll Detective DG Diane Gordon Mrs. Rogers

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Why Cult

Dice and Desire

Watch J.C. Cullen navigate the high-pressure world of professional gambling, risking more than just money as his personal entanglements grow.

Midcentury Chicago Atmosphere

1957 Chicago is rendered as a smoky, high-stakes backdrop where every club and craps game has something to lose.

Double Romance Danger

J.C.’s affairs with both the embittered Lorry Dane and the wholesome Aggie Donaldson amp up the emotional stakes and power plays.

Gambler Feuds

A deadly feud between gamblers pulls Cullen deeper into peril, making every throw of the dice a risky bet with his life.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

When was The Big Town released? +

The Big Town was released in 1987.

Who directed The Big Town? +

The Big Town was directed by Ben Bolt.

How long is The Big Town? +

The Big Town has a runtime of 109 minutes.

What genre is The Big Town? +

The Big Town is a drama and romance film.

Where can I watch The Big Town? +

You can watch The Big Town on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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