Gambling with Souls

This somewhat ramshackle production starts out as it means to go on, with shots of police starting out on a raid, clearly borrowed from elsewhere. We're soon introduced to Mae Miller, wife of a distinguished surgeon, and arrested for the murder of the local vice king following her inducement into heavy gambling, and then being forced to work as a call girl to pay off her debts. She's played by the unknown Martha Chapin, who is absolutely mesmerising in a performance of real star quality. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to a renowned star of the infinitely more explicit Adult entertainment of over forty years later, the adorable Juliet Anderson, she is alternately vivacious and vulnerable, and very sexy throughout. Did participation in such an outlaw movie as this preclude working in more respectable productions? If so, then what a waste.

The rest of the acting is variable; Wheeler Oakman as head of the gambling/vice racket would have been twirling his moustache, had it been longer; Vera Steadman is quite good as Mae's supposed friend Molly. In its crude fashion, this is entertaining, keeping you watching, and fans of this kind of dubious fare from yesteryear should enjoy it.