Let It Ride (film)
Encyclopedia
Let It Ride is a 1989 comedy film
. It stars Richard Dreyfuss
as a normally unsuccessful habitual gambler
who experiences a day in which he wins every bet he places. The film was directed by Joe Pytka and written by Nancy Dowd
, based on the novel Good Vibes by Jay Cronley
.
Teri Garr
, Jennifer Tilly
, Cynthia Nixon
, David Johansen
and Robbie Coltrane
are also in the cast.
Let It Ride was primarily filmed at Hialeah Park Race Track
, which was closed in 2001 and reopened on November 28, 2009. The story's light comedy is centered around the personality contrasts and the perpetually upbeat, hopeful attitudes of losers.
Looney has a tape of two men talking about a horse race and how one of the horses, due to some unethical practice by its owner, is a sure thing to win big. Trotter realizes the potential value of knowledge of a fixed horse race and goes to the track to make a bet -- despite the fact that the day before, he told his wife Pam that he would quit betting and would be home to, "start their marriage over" at noon. Before going to the track, he heads to the bar next door. He goes into a stall in the bathroom and starts praying. He says to God, "Just one day, that's all I'm asking for, one day, I'm due." A man exiting the bathrooms says "Ya? So's Jesus. Let it ride."
At the track, one of the service people offers the observation, "Sometimes you can be walking around lucky and not even know it." Watching one of the men from the cab talk to the jockey of the horse that is "supposed" to win, Trotter promptly places a $50 bet. The horse wins in a photo finish and pays $28.40 to win (earning him $710).
Armed with a new found sense of confidence, Jay approaches the two men from the cab and generously gives them the tape of their conversation. In gratitude (since he could have blackmailed them with it), they talk about the tension of the photo finish. Trotter then tells them, "even when you know, you never really know." Trotter is given a tip for the next race. He places a bet and wins again.
Sensing that this could be his "lucky day," Trotter goes about picking winner after winner, letting it ride. (That is, he lets his winnings finance his next bet.) As he accumulates more money and uses his new friends' membership in the track's exclusive dining room, Trotter starts coming into contact with other gamblers, including the wealthy Mrs. Davis and a sexy vixen named Vicki, attracted to him because of his money and confidence.
Trotter becomes a hero to the ticket seller (Robbie Coltrane) whose window he uses every time, and to the customers of the track's bar.
However, he has totally neglected his wife Pam back at home. Pam flies into a rage when she confronts her husband at the track. He can't help himself when he decides to "let it ride" and bets Fleet Dreams (No 3) in race seven, he gets the number by taking a survey of the track patrons and eliminating any selection they give him, leaving a single horse, which of course wins. Trotter decides to call it a day and goes home to Pam who is intoxicated and passed out on the lounge, noticing a deck of cards on the table he chooses the five of clubs which he then cuts from the pack.
Trotter decides to head back to the track to help the patrons of Marty's bar across the street, but when he suggests he bets their money for them, they balk at the idea, not sure at what to do, he goes for a walk around the track and is confronted by Vicki again, when she offers to, "go to bed with him." Jay is flattered by the offer, and "breaks the fourth wall
" by turning to the audience to say, "Am I having a good day or what?" Ultimately, he turns Vicki down by professing his love for his wife.
Trotter makes a final bet of $68,000 (his winnings for the day beginning from the original $50 bet) after Looney advises him not to bet on that horse, because it's blind. Trotter approaches the horse who winks at him, the horse appropriately named Hot to Trot.
Trotter approaches the rail to the cheers of the crowd when the race jumps, Looney and Trotter argue over everything, the main cast all vow to give up gambling or not to chase rich guys in Vicki's case. About a furlong out Trotter claims he knew it. A photo finish ensures, when Pam arrives to thank him for the lovely gift and to not worry about the money, when the announcer gives the race to number 2 (Hot to Trot). The entire racetrack erupts in celebration, which cause Pam to ask, "why is everyone cheering?" to which Jay replies, "because I'm having a very good day,"
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
. It stars Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Stephen Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in a number of film, television, and theater roles since the late 1960s, including the films American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goodbye Girl, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Stakeout, Always, What About...
as a normally unsuccessful habitual gambler
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
who experiences a day in which he wins every bet he places. The film was directed by Joe Pytka and written by Nancy Dowd
Nancy Dowd
Nancy Dowd is a screenwriter most famous for her films Slap Shot and Coming Home. Her brother Ned Dowd inspired the story behind Slap Shot based on his experiences playing minor league hockey...
, based on the novel Good Vibes by Jay Cronley
Jay Cronley
Jay Cronley is a columnist for the Tulsa World and the author of many works of humorous fiction, including Fall Guy, Good Vibes, Quick Change, and Funny Farm. Most of Cronley's work is out of print. Cronley became a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame in 2002. Many of Cronley's novels...
.
Teri Garr
Teri Garr
-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
, Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
, Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Ellen Nixon is an American actress, known for her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in the HBO series Sex and the City . She has received two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award....
, David Johansen
David Johansen
David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
and Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane, OBE is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is known both for his role as Dr...
are also in the cast.
Let It Ride was primarily filmed at Hialeah Park Race Track
Hialeah Park Race Track
The Hialeah Park Race Track is a historic site in Hialeah, Florida. Its site covers 40 square blocks of central-east side Hialeah from Palm Avenue east to East 4th Avenue, and from East 22nd Street on the south to East 32nd Street on the north. On March 5, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
, which was closed in 2001 and reopened on November 28, 2009. The story's light comedy is centered around the personality contrasts and the perpetually upbeat, hopeful attitudes of losers.
Plot
Jay Trotter drives a cab. His friend Looney does likewise and has a secret microphone in the taxi to record his passenger conversations.Looney has a tape of two men talking about a horse race and how one of the horses, due to some unethical practice by its owner, is a sure thing to win big. Trotter realizes the potential value of knowledge of a fixed horse race and goes to the track to make a bet -- despite the fact that the day before, he told his wife Pam that he would quit betting and would be home to, "start their marriage over" at noon. Before going to the track, he heads to the bar next door. He goes into a stall in the bathroom and starts praying. He says to God, "Just one day, that's all I'm asking for, one day, I'm due." A man exiting the bathrooms says "Ya? So's Jesus. Let it ride."
At the track, one of the service people offers the observation, "Sometimes you can be walking around lucky and not even know it." Watching one of the men from the cab talk to the jockey of the horse that is "supposed" to win, Trotter promptly places a $50 bet. The horse wins in a photo finish and pays $28.40 to win (earning him $710).
Armed with a new found sense of confidence, Jay approaches the two men from the cab and generously gives them the tape of their conversation. In gratitude (since he could have blackmailed them with it), they talk about the tension of the photo finish. Trotter then tells them, "even when you know, you never really know." Trotter is given a tip for the next race. He places a bet and wins again.
Sensing that this could be his "lucky day," Trotter goes about picking winner after winner, letting it ride. (That is, he lets his winnings finance his next bet.) As he accumulates more money and uses his new friends' membership in the track's exclusive dining room, Trotter starts coming into contact with other gamblers, including the wealthy Mrs. Davis and a sexy vixen named Vicki, attracted to him because of his money and confidence.
Trotter becomes a hero to the ticket seller (Robbie Coltrane) whose window he uses every time, and to the customers of the track's bar.
However, he has totally neglected his wife Pam back at home. Pam flies into a rage when she confronts her husband at the track. He can't help himself when he decides to "let it ride" and bets Fleet Dreams (No 3) in race seven, he gets the number by taking a survey of the track patrons and eliminating any selection they give him, leaving a single horse, which of course wins. Trotter decides to call it a day and goes home to Pam who is intoxicated and passed out on the lounge, noticing a deck of cards on the table he chooses the five of clubs which he then cuts from the pack.
Trotter decides to head back to the track to help the patrons of Marty's bar across the street, but when he suggests he bets their money for them, they balk at the idea, not sure at what to do, he goes for a walk around the track and is confronted by Vicki again, when she offers to, "go to bed with him." Jay is flattered by the offer, and "breaks the fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
" by turning to the audience to say, "Am I having a good day or what?" Ultimately, he turns Vicki down by professing his love for his wife.
Trotter makes a final bet of $68,000 (his winnings for the day beginning from the original $50 bet) after Looney advises him not to bet on that horse, because it's blind. Trotter approaches the horse who winks at him, the horse appropriately named Hot to Trot.
Trotter approaches the rail to the cheers of the crowd when the race jumps, Looney and Trotter argue over everything, the main cast all vow to give up gambling or not to chase rich guys in Vicki's case. About a furlong out Trotter claims he knew it. A photo finish ensures, when Pam arrives to thank him for the lovely gift and to not worry about the money, when the announcer gives the race to number 2 (Hot to Trot). The entire racetrack erupts in celebration, which cause Pam to ask, "why is everyone cheering?" to which Jay replies, "because I'm having a very good day,"
Cast
- Richard DreyfussRichard DreyfussRichard Stephen Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in a number of film, television, and theater roles since the late 1960s, including the films American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goodbye Girl, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Stakeout, Always, What About...
as Jay Trotter - David JohansenDavid JohansenDavid Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
as Looney - Teri GarrTeri Garr-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
as Pam - Jennifer TillyJennifer TillyJennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
as Vicki - Allen GarfieldAllen GarfieldAllen Garfield, born and sometimes credited as Allen Goorwitz , is an American film and television actor.-Biography:...
as Greenberg - Robbie ColtraneRobbie ColtraneRobbie Coltrane, OBE is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is known both for his role as Dr...
as Ticket Seller - Michelle PhillipsMichelle PhillipsMichelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
as Mrs. Davis - Cynthia NixonCynthia NixonCynthia Ellen Nixon is an American actress, known for her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in the HBO series Sex and the City . She has received two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award....
as Evangeline - Richard EdsonRichard EdsonRichard Edson is an American actor and musician.-Biography:Edson was born in New Rochelle, New York. He has one brother, Steven, who resides in the Boston area, and two sisters: Andrea, who resides in Newton, Massachusetts and Jennifer, who resides in New York City. His father Arnold was one of...
as Johnny Casino - Trevor DenmanTrevor DenmanTrevor Denman is an American sportscaster and public-address announcer specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing.Denman was born in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa...
as Race Track Announcer