Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Scheming Gambler's Paradise

Original title: Le tripot clandestin
  • 1905
  • Not Rated
  • 3m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
918
YOUR RATING
The Scheming Gambler's Paradise (1905)
ComedyShort

Despite all methods of instantaneously masking a clandestine gambling den's shady activities, the risk of getting caught is high, especially when the police thirsts for success. But, sometim... Read allDespite all methods of instantaneously masking a clandestine gambling den's shady activities, the risk of getting caught is high, especially when the police thirsts for success. But, sometimes, indulging in pure fun is just too tempting.Despite all methods of instantaneously masking a clandestine gambling den's shady activities, the risk of getting caught is high, especially when the police thirsts for success. But, sometimes, indulging in pure fun is just too tempting.

  • Director
    • Georges Méliès
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    918
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Georges Méliès
    • 8User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    User reviews8

    6.0918
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    Michael_Elliott

    Weaker Melies

    Scheming Gamblers' Paradise, The (1906)

    ** (out of 4)

    aka Le Tripot clandestin

    I've always found this to be one of the weaker Melies films out there even though it's still got a fair number of fans. The film takes place inside a gambling house that can quickly be turned into a clothing store whenever the police are about to enter. Seeing how the set was built in order to change like it does is clever the first time you see it but then it just keeps on happening and to me it's never really funny or fresh. I doubt this was the first time the trick gambling house was done so I can't even give this film points for that. The entire technique behind the changing of the room is nice but that's about it.
    6JoeytheBrit

    A Simple but Enjoyable Melies Movie.

    The pioneering French filmmaker Geroges Melies is chiefly remembered for his trick photography today but this film is evidence that he was capable of producing films that didn't rely on special effects to create an impact. The one set-one take story sees a bunch of gamblers and prostitutes enjoying themselves in a gambling den. Their hi-jinks are disrupted by a police raid, but the owners of the establishment are prepared for such raids and the casino is instantly transformed into a clothing store, leaving the police non-plussed by what they find.

    The film reminded me firstly of a scene from the Rat Pack movie Robin and the Seven Hoods in which a similar gambling den is transformed into a church hall, and also of Mack Sennett's Keystone Kop movies thanks to the later scene where we see a dozen cops wrestling each other in the dark, each of them believing they have hold of one of the gamblers.
    Snow Leopard

    Funny & Clever

    This short comedy is pretty clever, and it represents something of a change of pace from Georges Méliès, in terms of its method. Rather than the assortment of camera tricks that you see in most of his features, this one just uses the props very creatively to tell a simple but amusing story. The story and the technique both work well, and the visual effects make it fun to watch.

    The story is set in a gambling house whose management expects to endure frequent raids from the police. Their elaborate devices for protecting themselves are very creative, and they work so smoothly that you almost don't notice how detailed everything is. It's well worth watching it a number of times so that you can catch all of the details in the transformation scenes.

    The visual effects are the highlight here, rather than the story, but it does have an amusing final sequence that, in addition to comedy, provides a bit of rather tart commentary from Méliès as well.
    7Kitahito

    Two raids in one night? Give the poor rascals a break!

    Damn, early 20th century France must've been a police state or something! Two police raids in one night?! One might think half of the population works in law enforcement agencies. Sadly, no whacky dancing Devil were present, and the all too famous movie magic were absent too, so I have to cut a few points, but still, yet again a very nice and clever short movie from Méliès. Well done!
    5ackstasis

    A fold

    Watching this film, I was reminded of the classic scene in 'Sgt. Bilko (1996)' when Steve Martin, with a few minor readjustments, instantaneously transforms a gambling house into a busy-looking army motor pool garage. 'The Scheming Gambler's Paradise (1905)' works along the same lines: a busy casino, warned of the arrival of police, neatly folds itself a clothes store. There don't seem to be any in-camera effects here, only clever use of film sets. This absence of cinematic effects is a little disappointing, since that is why one usually watches a Méliès film, but nevertheless this is still a mildly amusing comedic skit. As always, the director can't resist a bit of stage showmanship, occasionally gesturing directly at the camera, as though to say: "watch this!"

    More like this

    The Hilarious Posters
    6.2
    The Hilarious Posters
    The Black Imp
    6.9
    The Black Imp
    The Living Playing Cards
    6.5
    The Living Playing Cards
    The Mysterious Retort
    5.8
    The Mysterious Retort
    The Little Match Seller
    6.7
    The Little Match Seller
    The Devilish Tenant
    7.2
    The Devilish Tenant
    L'homme à la tête en caoutchouc
    7.1
    L'homme à la tête en caoutchouc
    The One-Man Band
    7.0
    The One-Man Band
    The Legend of Rip Van Winkle
    6.0
    The Legend of Rip Van Winkle
    The Enchanted Sedan Chair
    5.3
    The Enchanted Sedan Chair
    The Kingdom of the Fairies
    7.3
    The Kingdom of the Fairies
    Aladdin and His Wonder Lamp
    6.4
    Aladdin and His Wonder Lamp

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
    Short

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Star Film 784 - 785.
    • Connections
      Featured in Une séance Méliès (1997)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1905 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • El paraíso de un jugador
    • Production company
      • Star-Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 3m
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.