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Monday, February 9, 2026

The Big Boodle (1957)

Set in Cuba, a croupier (Errol Flynn) in a Havana casino is falsely accused of counterfeiting pesos. As self protection, he is forced to uncover a racket involving highly respected banking officials. Based on the novel by Robert Sylvester and directed by Richard Wilson (INVITATION TO A GUNFIGHTER). An often confusing noir-ish thriller without much excitement or tension. It doesn't help that its star is lethargic and looks dissipated. Flynn just seems tired and during some of the action scenes, his stunt double is obvious. It worked in some of his later movies like THE SUN ALSO RISES and THE ROOTS OF HEAVEN because those characters were tired but BOODLE needed a younger and more energetic leading man though to be fair, I doubt it would have made the movie any better. However, it would make the matter less of a distraction. With Gia Scala, Pedro Armendariz, Rossana Rory, Carlos Rivas and Jacques Aubuchon.

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