My review was written in May 1984 after watching the movie on Vestron video cassette.
"Stacy's Knights" is a stillborn feature attempt to dramatize average people's hopes for hitting the jackpot in the casino world of blackjack. Filmed in 1982 under the more appropriate (if uncommercial) title of "Double Down", pic was marginally released theatrically lst year but is more suitable as low-key tv fare.
Weak cast is led by Andra Millian as Stacy, a shy young girl (termed a "mouse" by the casino surveillance staff) who goes to Reno with her drama school teacher Jean (Eve Lilith) to make a killing at the "21" tables. There they meet Will (Kevin Costner), a local boy with a fancy hat, who recognizes Stacy's card sense and amazing memory and suggests the trio go into partnership to break the bank at a casino run by nasty Shecky Poolel (Mike Reynolds).
Both before and after the requisite training sequence, Stacy is met by a "knockout" put on her by Shecky: ordering his best blackjack dealer to get rid of the player by cheating. Will, whose dad was a famous cardsharp, takes Stacy to a guru-like expert known as The Kid (Ed Semenza) to learn the almost mystical secrets of counting in blackjack.
After the baddies get rid of Will, Stacy organizes a team of players to execute a "The Sting"-style assault on Shecky's casino, successfully taking home $611,000 in winnings.
Film's major failing is the absence of excitement or suspense during the gambling scenes, mechanically directed by Jim Wilson. Low-budget opus includes dated romantic montages and an unfortunate use of voice-over exposition laid in during transition driving-around footage.
Cast is inadequate, with lad Millian failing to blossom, even when she cornily removes her specs and is supposed to be glamorous (she later does an okay male-drag routine with moustache added to fool casino authorities). Costar Kevin Costner is a comfortable, engaging young performer in an underwritten role, who has since landed leading roles in "St. Louis Square" and upcoming Warner Bros. Releases "Fandango" and "American Flyer". Tech credits are satisfactory.
