The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (Includes DVD)

Receiving its long-overdue High Definition premiere, as part of this Dual Format edition, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is John Cassavetes' uncompromising character study of a gangster.Cassavetes regular Ben Gazzara (Anatomy of a Murder, Husbands, The Big Lebowski), plays a seedy Los Angeles strip-club owner who runs up heavy gambling debts which he arranges to wipe out by murdering an elderly Chinese gangster. Also amongst the cast is Cassavetes regular Seymour Cassel (Faces, Rushmore) and legendary cult actor Timothy Carey (The Killing, Paths of Glory).Arguably the most plot-driven of his films, Cassavates withdrew The Killing of a Chinese Bookie shortly after the initial release and subsequently re-cut a shorter version with a different opening. Both cuts are made available on Blu-ray and the DVD.Special Features:Presented in both High Definition and Standard DefinitionIncludes both the 135 minute and 108 minute re-cut versionsSelected scene commentary by Al Rubin and Peter Bogdanovich on long versionExtensive booklet with essays and film creditsCast and Crew: Directed by John Cassavetes (Shadows, A Women Under the Influence).Starring Ben Gazzara (Anatomy of a Murder, Husbands, The Big Lebowski), Seymour Cassel (Faces, Rushmore)Awards and Reviews: 'A post noir masterpiece' Jonathan Rosenbaum