Three Card Monte (1978) Online

Three Card Monte is a look at grifting, Canada-style. It's about a con artist (Richard Gabourie) who travels from town to town with his grift schemes and the kid (Chris Langevin) who hooks up with him and the complications which ensue. It's a fairly honest look at two outsiders trying to make ends meet in an unstable world. In fact some times it's a bit too realistic. The adult problems the two characters run into make it inappropriate for kids but it's too lightweight for most adults. Still, it offers an interesting look at Canada and has appealing performances.

Released on video as Back Street Hustle (with box art implying hustling of a different variety), Three Card Monte is the rather boring tale of a Canadian con man (screenwriter Richard Gabourie) and the foul-mouthed foster-home punk he befriends (Chris Langevin). It's basically a cross between Paper Moon and The Grifters, but it isn't anywhere near as good as either of those films. Three Card Monte tries hard to be life-affirming and heart-warming, but neither our hero nor his pint-sized sidekick are particularly likable, and their adventures will hardly get your pulse racing. It's a typical Canadian film of the period: inoffensive and dull. In fact, the spicy box art is more exciting than the film itself.