Bingo on the silver screen

I’ve been doing a fair amount of reading and researching into popular culture and gaming. Thanks to reader comments and suggestions, here at Bingo-Room we’ve managed to come up with lots of juicy topics. Today’s blog post is a little off the beaten track and it’s sure to ignite some interest from fellow readers. Grab your popcorn, dim the lights and enjoy the show.

If I were asked to delve into the world of casino games such as blackjack or even craps, then it would be a no-brainer to uncover A-list movies that promulgate such games. Off the top of my head I could think of perhaps 5 worthwhile flicks in: 21, Croupier, Casino Royale, Casino and Vegas Vacation. Those flicks certainly pack an entertainment punch and are worthy contenders for top awards, perhaps with the exception of Vegas Vacation starring Chevy Chase . It is however an entirely different ball game when you try to uncover flicks or documentaries for that matter related to bingo games. Of all the mainstream movies I’ve seen – and that’s considerable, I admit – few, if any pay homage to bingo gaming. Why pray tell is that? Let’s delve a little deeper into our favorite game and see what we can come up with.

Bingo is featured in many ways and it’s plenty hot on the telly

Back in 2001 there was a 30 minute documentary that certainly had a bingo theme in it. The name of the flick was King of the Bingo Game. This television drama draws its inspiration from Ralph Ellison’s book Invisible Man. And to add some weight to the quality of his work, Ellison just happens to be a National Book Award winner too. The gist of the story is that an indigent fellow finds his way into a theater in Harlem, NY during WWII. Here’s the clincher – he wins the intermission bingo spin. And that’s only the beginning of his story. It’s worth a watch.

Finding bingo in movie titles is hardly a challenge, the list is indeed impressive. One such hilarious flick is The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, starring the comedic genius of legendary erstwhile actor Richard Pryor. The movie has precious little to do with bingo, but it’s the name of the charismatic baseball pitcher and it’s plenty exciting. In 1999 a super bingo documentary was released and its name was affectionately termed: Bingo! The Documentary. Fancy that! If you’re a novice at this game and you’re looking for insights into how it functions from an up close and personal perspective, then this is your tonic. This documentary traverses the Atlantic as it tracks bingo halls and their functionality. It is surprisingly exciting and certainly worth its 59 minutes screen time.

Folks if you’ve seen a bingo-themed movie worthy of its place on bingo-room.com you’re welcome to send me feedback and/or suggestions by posting your comment here.

Image credit: hmdavid