Ben Bolt, a director known for his work in the gritty realm of cult cinema, helmed The Big Town (1987), which delves into the cutthroat world of gambling and ambition. Set against the backdrop of a vibrant yet dangerous environment, the film captures the essence of the 1980s exploitation genre. Bolt's direction brings a raw intensity to the narrative, showcasing the moral complexities faced by its characters. His ability to weave tension and drama into the fabric of the story makes The Big Town a notable entry in the catalog of cult cinema.
The Big Town
In 1957, J. C. Cullen is a small-town crapshooter who heads to Chicago, Illinois, to seek his fortune. There he becomes the pawn of two high-rolling professional gamblers, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. He later gets mixed-up in a revenge scheme cooked up by Lorry Dane, the embittered stripper wife of strip-joint owner George Cole. Before he knows what's happened, Cullen is embroiled in two torrid romances: one with Dane and the other with nice girl Aggie Donaldson. He also nearly loses his life by ending up in the middle of a deadly feud between Edwards, Cole, and Phil Carpenter, the man Mr. Edwards accuses of causing him to lose his eyesight.
