by Joe Danet
Some Like It Hot
This classic 1959 comedy starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon is much loved for the madcap, gender-bending adventures of down-on-their-luck jazz musicians Joe and Jerry as they join an all-female dance band. Amid the many iconic moments within the film that are fondly remembered, however, not many audiences recall the pivotal wager that Joe and Jerry place at the beginning of the film. After losing their jobs, the pair pawns their overcoats to go to the dog races where they back Jerry’s favourite — Greased Lighting — with disastrous and hilarious consequences!
Eight Men Out
This gritty look at when sporting events go wrong is based on a real-life incident. The movie tells the tale of the 1919 Chicago White Sox team who lost that year against the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. As the film reveals, eight members of the team decided to accept bribes to throw the match, but their reasons for doing so were to expose the corruption within the team. Naturally, the film doesn’t end on a high note as we see all the players involved in the scandal banned from playing professional baseball. And even though the players’ decision isn’t glamorised, the movie makes an excellent attempt to show things from their perspective.
Lay the Favourite
This little-known gem shows a more positive side to sports wagers. Starring A-listers Vince Vaughn, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bruce Willis, along with British actress Rebecca Hall as the lead character Beth Raymer, this movie is based on Raymer’s memoir. The movie follows Beth as she leaves her exotic dancing job in Florida to try to hit the big time in Vegas. While there she is introduced to Dink, a pro with a sports betting agency, and she quickly becomes his protégé. Beth’s new life in Vegas doesn’t come without its trials and tribulations like Dink’s jealous wife and almost missing a chance at love, but in real Hollywood fashion, everything works out in the end
