Never Trust a Gambler

...but in the end it falls flat. Steve Garry (Dane Clark) is on the run from the police because he is a material witness in the murder trial of a friend of his who is accused of murdering his wife. The problem is that anything Garry would say would implicate his friend, not clear him. He runs to the home of his ex-wife, Virginia (Cathy O'Donnell), to hide out. She divorced him because he was a gambler and not trustworthy. But before he can move on from her house she is followed home by a lecherous cop who is planning to assault her when he is confronted by Garry, who accidentally kills him in a fight. Garry disposes of the body trying to make it look like a drunk driving accident. So now Garry and his ex wife have real trouble on their hands.

The cast is excellent - I have always believed Dane Clark was underrated and underused, especially in his time over at Warner Brothers. But the direction is really uninspired. And then there are all of those annoying supporting players who usually make little crime films like these. There is Virginia's annoying elderly neighbor who - comes over to borrow two dollars??? That would be 40 dollars in today's money. Who does such things? I don't remember her returning it either. Then there is the night shift bus driver who has to have a job he hates, or is at least bored by it, who remembers everybody who was on the bus the night before with perfect clarity. And his wife - who can't shut up about how dishonest he is to the cops - She may hate living with the guy, but he is her bread and butter and yet she acts like she wants him arrested. Cathy Donnelly's doe-eyed act was great in "They Live By Night" but here it just outstays its welcome. And it looks odd in contrast to all of the other 20 something women in the cast who look and sound like they are doing Virginia Mayo imitations from White Heat.

It has a great twist in the end, but overall it cries out for a script rewrite and better direction.

A moderately entertaining crime flick starring Dane Clark as a fugitive gambler who finds shelter in the home of his ex. More police procedural (as the detective in charge of the case follows Clark's trail) than film noir, and not even a very suspenseful one at that. Tom Drake turns in the film's best performance as the cop, and Clark is fine, but Cathy O'Donnell--who could have stolen the whole damn movie as the pretty but gullible Virginia--spends most of her time looking either indecisive or worried, and not much else. A genuine character study of a woman trapped--now THAT would have been something to see.

Steve--dane clark Virginia--Cathy O'donnell masher off dutycop shows police work odd--everyone seemed to know dead cop was a lecher she's a bad liar

Steve (Dane Clark) is a gambler on the run from the cops. He's apparently been accused of murder and he has decided to visit his estranged wife, Virginia (Cathy O'Donnell). She believes that he's an innocent and reformed man, so she agrees to let him stay with her for a few days.

Out of the blue, a perverted lech of a cop sees Virginia and decides to follow her home. There, he refuses to take no for an answer and he's about to rape her when Steve comes out of hiding and beats the cop up...killing him in the process. It's a clear case of justifiable homicide....but Steve isn't about to call the police and report this. Instead, he dumps the body and they hope it all blows over...or will it?

This is a very good film, though it is relatively low-budgeted and with second and third-tier actors. In spite of this, the writing is very believable and well done. I especially love where the story went towards the end...it really made the film.

Gambler-fugitive seeks refuge with ex-wife, even as police close in.

Except for the cleverly staged finale—a giant crane on the LA loading docks—it's a pretty pedestrian crime story. Despite the poor ratings from the professionals, I tuned in because of the cast. Clark makes an excellent tough-guy-with-soul as in Deep Valley (1947) and Moonrise (1948), while O'Donnell is enough to make a grown man cry in the transcendent They Live by Night (1948). What this film crucially lacks, however, is mood. It's filmed in straightforward unimaginative style, much like a TV episode. As a result, there's no complementary atmosphere to frame the twosome's particular talents, thereby largely wasting them. Too bad, because the film would likely do just as well with any number of lesser talents in the leads.

It doesn't help that the screenplay is unexceptional with few surprises, except maybe for the randy cop (Williams). Still, you wonder how such a crude guy could possibly stay on the force, let alone as a sergeant. It's also a cheaply produced programmer with two or three basic sets. At least, Columbia knew something more was needed, hence the scenic finale. All in all, the movie's a routine programmer, at best.

Steve Gerry is a small-time gambler on the run from the law. He shows up at his sweet innocent school teacher Ex-wife's house giving her a story about needing to avoid the law because he friend is on trial for killing his wife, only he knows his friend didn't do it...but that he would have to testify that they fought "and that would look bad". He also gave evidence of him mending his gambling ways by saying he and his friend were in the boat business together and he showed her his bank book with $600 monthly deposits as evidence.

Our sweet and naïve school teacher, Virginia, takes him in and says he can stay for one night. She goes to get groceries and is hassled and then followed by cop and lecherous drunk friend of her former roommate. He forces his way in to her house and tries to take advantage of her...Steve steps in to intervene and in the tussle kills the cop.

This brings police Sargent Ed Donovan (played by handsome Tom Drake) and partner to Virginia's door.

In the end there is a great classic noir chase involving cranes at the shipyard. Great investigation with appropriate moments of waiting and interviews. I loved the women's response to the news that the lecherous cop is dead!

"Bachelors never sleep."-Cop #1

If you are fan of noir or police procedures, you should watch this film.