“The Killing of a Chinese Bookie” A pseudo-family story wrapped in film noir *Note! Contains spoilers.

Cosmo Cassavetes

In addition to running the club as the owner, Cozmo also handles everything from stage direction, music selection, choreography, and host. The purpose of the guests coming is a female striptease show. However, he takes pride in his work, loves the club called Crazy Horse, loves the stage he creates, and loves his friends. He is a lonely man with no wife or children. However, he feels a sense of spiritual fulfillment by acting as their father.

There are some unforgettable scenes. On his way to assassinate Cozmo, he stops by a public phone and checks with the staff about the stage.

"What's the story? Is it Paris? You've been at the store for seven years and you know the story? Isn't there 'Paris' written on the stage? In the case of Paris stories, it's written on the wall. Mr. Moon. What about the picture? What about the song?”

He can't help but wonder what program is being performed on stage and what song is being played. Even at the last minute, when he might be killed, his focus is always on Crazy Horse. The camera does not show the stage at all, but instead captures a close-up of Cosmo, capturing his frustration in great detail.

I will never forget the scene in which he takes advantage of having paid off his long-standing debt, rents a limousine, and heads off to a gambling den in high spirits, accompanied by dancers from a club. Of course, he is probably doing this to satisfy his self-esteem, but on the other hand, it feels like Cozmo's parental desire to give the girls the experience of ``dressing up and going to gorgeous places.'' I can't help it.

“The Killing of a Chinese Bookie” (c) 1976 Faces Distribution Corporation.

Cosmo continues to lose and ends up once again incurring a large amount of debt. At this rate, we'll have no choice but to let Crazy Horse go. Even though they knew it was dangerous, they decided to do as the gang told them to and assassinate the Chinese bookie, probably because they didn't want to lose their home more than anything else. And it was also a projection of none other than John Cassavetes himself.

Ben Gazzara was initially dissatisfied with the role of Cosmo. This is because I couldn't find a connection between myself and the role. But one day, he hears from John Cassavetes that ``Gangs are a metaphor for people who try to steal or ruin someone's dreams'' (*2). And Ben Gazzara understands everything... Cosmo is Cassavetes himself as he strives toward his dream of film, Crazy Horse is the symbol of his film and art, and the Mafia is his That he is part of the film industry that tries to get in the way of his dreams.

Cassavetes uses Al Ruban, the film's producer, as one of the loan sharks. This is proof that ``The Killing of a Chinese Bookie'' is a highly metaphorical work.

end of dream