This was the third and last time Stanwyck would work with Robert Preston. They also did Union Pacific and Variety Girls. This one is about a woman who becomes addicted to gambling. It opens with us seeing what she has become, and we're quickly into the flashback of how she got to that point. Preston (probably best known for westerns and of course, Victor Victoria) is her husband, who is there writing a story about Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, so Joan starts gambling, out of boredom at first. Then she gets in deeper and deeper, sure that she can win it back. The casino manager is "Corrigan", played by Stephen McNally. He is onto Joan, and tries to help her, but only because she can also help him. Friend "Ruth" is Edith Barrett... not sure what part she really plays here... it was kind of confusing. Joan blames all her troubles on Ruth, and there is bad blood between them, but Ruth actually plays a very small part in all this. Film buffs will recognize the pawnbroker, Housely Stevenson... he was also the plastic surgeon in Dark Passage. A worn face with so much character. Tony Curtis ( in only his third role !) is listed in the credits as "Bellboy". Pretty serious film, moves along steadily. Preston was only 30 in this ... looks and sounds SO different here than in his later roles. Nowadays, I think, the casino would have recognized Joan's problem and shut her off sooner, but I guess back then, they didn't see it the way we do now. No gamblers anonymous groups or hotlines to call. Great scenes of old las vegas and hoover dam. Due to stepped up security after the 2001 terrorists, the setup at hoover dam is all changed around now. Before that, you could pretty much drive anywhere, walk around the tunnels inside the dam, and we took the tour of the Arizona side of the generators. Ah, the good ol days. Historically, this one is certainly a part of Stanwyck's repertoire. Aside from that, it's well done, but it's kind of a downer. Directed by Michael Gordon. This one IS available on DVD as part of the Backlot Universal Stanwyck Collection.
Review of The Lady Gambles
