Bootleg Betty
Happy 44th Anniversary To Bette Midler’s Jinxed Movie
By Mister D
Oct. 22, 2026
Jinxed! (released October 22, 1982) is a dark comedy starring Bette Midler, Ken Wahl, and Rip Torn, directed by Don Siegel. It follows Las Vegas lounge singer Bonita Friml (Midler), trapped in a toxic marriage with compulsive gambler Harold Benson, whose bizarre winning streak haunts blackjack dealer Willie Brodax. A murder plot, a broken jinx, and a grim twist drive the story.
Bonita’s husband Harold wins only when Willie deals, a ‘jinx’ that ruins Willie’s career. Harold obsessively follows him from casino to casino, dragging Bonita along. The plot nods to Bette Midler in style, with a dark, theatrical mood that fits the casino world.
When Bonita and Willie fall for each other, she pushes him toward killing Harold. Willie agrees only if he can break the jinx. He finally beats Harold, who secretly goes home and commits suicide, ending the curse but not the chaos.
Production Drama & Trivia (the juicy stuff)
Don Siegel’s final film. He suffered a heart attack during production, forcing Sam Peckinpah to shoot uncredited second?unit footage.
Midler vs. Wahl feud. Ken Wahl publicly said kissing Midler was “like kissing my dog,” and the two fought constantly.
Siegel disliked Midler, which critics later said shows in the film’s tone and direction.
Script origins were messy. Early drafts came from an unpublished Frank D. Gilroy novel The Edge; the project cycled through titles including Jackpot and Hot Streak before becoming Jinxed!
Stuntman Richard Humphreys’ name is misspelled (“Humphreys”) in the end credits.
Anniversaries
Film Release: October 22, 1982 — making October 22 the key annual anniversary date.
There are no major awards associated with Jinxed! — the film was critically panned and commercially unsuccessful, grossing $2.8 million against a $13.4 million budget.
Reception
IMDb: 4.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 30/100
Critics widely noted the troubled production, tonal inconsistency, and cast tensions. Midler’s performance is often cited as the film’s main redeeming element.
Bonus Trivia
Despite the chaos, Midler’s stage?number energy in the film is frequently praised — even reviewers who disliked the movie singled her out as “the only reason to see it.”
The film has become a cult curiosity among Siegel completists because it marks the end of his career.
