Roulette has long been a symbol of glamour, seduction, and sometimes ruin. From James Bond sitting comfortably at a casino table to literary characters tempting their fate through gambling, roulette holds an integral place in cinematic history.
Croupier, the 1998 neo-noir flick that introduced us to Clive Owen, features an intense scene at the roulette table where Bogart suggests Jan play 22 black on an unbalanced wheel.
Roulette in Literature
Roulette has long been featured in books and novels. One early instance is found in Lermontov’s 1840 novel Hero of Our Time which appears to be partially autobiographical and features an influential scene where its protagonist takes an irrevocably risky bet.
Roulette has also made appearances in several films, most notably James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever where Sean Connery can be seen playing roulette at a casino table.
Croupier, a 1998 neo-noir film starring Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson, features roulette. When cash is tight, characters decide to place bets at a roulette table in an effort to recover losses by doubling bets each time they lose. This strategy, known as martingale betting, can quickly lead to large financial losses as players are betting against probability; past results do not influence future outcomes.
Roulette in Music
Roulette has long served as an inspiration to musicians, with numerous artists taking inspiration from its symbolism of chance. From risque sex tracks to an upbeat rock ballad, music has often utilized this casino game to convey unpredictability and excitement.
Humphrey Bogart’s 1942 classic Casablanca features one of the best-known roulette scenes ever depicted on film, in which an Eastern European couple try to win enough money to bribe police captain Renault with. Rick, one of Rick’s Cafe Americain host and gambler Rick’s recommendations is 22 black – which hits on an improper wheel, eventually leading them out of France and into America.
Mike Hodges’ 1998 neo-noir movie Croupier is another iconic gambling film, and helped launch Clive Owen’s career. This story depicts a high roller’s life on a casino floor where corruption and devastating losses are common – driving home the message that life, like roulette, is ultimately a game of chance.
Roulette on the Small Screen
There have been countless films that include roulette as an element of suspense or unpredictability that keeps viewers on edge.
One iconic scene featuring roulette can be found in Casablanca when Bogart assists a Bulgarian couple playing to earn enough money for visas out of Bulgaria. Another classic film which prominently featured this theme was Run Lola Run (1998) featuring Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson, about a couple who are desperately in need of cash but decide to gamble it all at a roulette table, only for everything to vanish quickly at once.
Popular television shows that utilize roulette include Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. Disney Pixar film Toy Story 3 also featured a fun roulette scene where characters gathered around a See n Say machine placed their bets on what color will come up.
Roulette Online
Roulette is an intriguing and alluring game, and its representation in popular culture has played an instrumental role in shaping our perception of it. From novels to movies, roulette has often been used as a plot device to create tension and explore themes like obsession, self-discovery and chance.
Bogart’s character Rick in Casablanca provided guidance to an idealistic young Bulgarian couple in their attempt to raise enough money to escape to America by suggesting they bet on 22 black roulette numbers, ultimately succeeding and showing that roulette is indeed a game of chance.
Due to online casinos, musicians can now leverage their names as brand ambassadors for gambling games like roulette. This leverages our collective fascination with gambling while giving up-and-coming musicians another avenue through which their music could reach new audiences that may otherwise have gone undetected. Rap music has even made its way into some video games for added thrills and uncertainty!
