The Gambler (1974 film)

The Gambler is a 1974 drama film written by James Toback and directed by Karel Reisz. It stars James Caan, Paul Sorvino and Lauren Hutton. Toback wrote it as a fictional story using his own teaching career and gambling addiction as inspiration.

Axel Freed is a New York City Harvard Universityeducated English professor and author with a gambling addiction that begins to spiral out of control. In the classroom, Freed inspires his college students with his interpretations of Fyodor Dostoevskys work. In his personal life, Axel has the affection of the beautiful Billie and the admiration of his family, including his mother Naomi, who is a doctor, and his grandfather, a wealthy businessman.Unbeknownst to them, Axels reckless gambling has left him with a huge debt. His bookie, Hips, likes the professor personally but threatens grave consequences if he does not pay up. When Billie, having been informed by Axel that he owes 44,000, questions the wisdom of her associating with him, Axel confidently tells her she loves his lifes dangers, including the possibility of blood. ........

Source: Wikipedia