Faro Scene in ‘The Pale Blue Eye’

Toward the end of 2021, I was given an interesting and somewhat quirky task. A representative from Netflix reached out about a film they were producing at that time, titled The Pale Blue Eye, featuring Christian Bale. The story was set in what is present-day West Point during the year 1830. The original novel included a poker scene, but the production team felt that faro would have been a more popular game of that era. I agreed with their analysis and suggested replacing poker with faro instead.

The challenge with faro is that it's a game from a bygone era. While we are aware of its rules, the game is so ancient that I highly doubt anyone who played it at its peak is still alive today. Consequently, we lack a deep understanding of how the game was traditionally conducted. Netflix enlisted my help to provide guidance on this matter, and I was eager to step up but not an absolute expert in faro's history. I believe they would have struggled to find a more suitable consultant if I had declined.

To tackle this, I examined historical images and relied on logic to piece together how the game was played. Articulating the game's dynamics was challenging, so the Netflix representative suggested creating a video demonstration. Two friends generously volunteered to assist me. Using a poker table that I modified to resemble a faro table, we proceeded to film.

The feedback I received was that they were seeking a more organic feel without my initial detailed explanation of the rules. Therefore, I shot an additional video featuring a new group of actors. In this version, I provided them with a quick rundown of the rules before we began and encouraged them to simply enjoy the game. I instructed them not to inquire about the rules while at the table, to create the impression that they were already familiar with the game.

My contact at Netflix was thrilled with the second video and began making plans for me to travel to Pennsylvania to offer my insights on set. That was genuinely exhilarating! Unfortunately, someone managing the budget ultimately decided against bringing me on board.

Fast forward just over a year, and the film has now premiered. While the gambling scene was brief, it successfully depicted faro, and the dialogue used was directly inspired by my videos! I couldn’t find anything to critique—it was undoubtedly better than a previous faro scene in Tombstone where the dealer was actually playing blackjack.

I’ve just created a YouTube video that showcases the actual faro scene from the film alongside clips from the videos I produced. I hope you enjoy it!

I'm pleased to share that this marks my fourth contribution to my collection. IMDB listing If anyone in the entertainment industry needs a consultant for casino games, feel free to reach out to me.

Lastly, I want to mention that I signed a non-disclosure agreement with Netflix, which I adhered to until the film was released. Now that the movie is out, I trust they won’t mind my discussing it.

Written by: Michael Shackleford