Never Trust a Gambler

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.

...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.

Dane Clark, Cathy O' Donnell, Jeff Corey, and Tom Drake with Good Support seek to Make this Pedestrian Picture Rise Above its Pedigree.

Almost but Not Quite.

The Movie is a One-Note Song about a No-Good Ex-Husband Preying on His Sweet Ex-Wife.

An Annoying Lech of a Police Sgt. Bullys the Mrs. In a Hard-to-Watch Scene and a Nosey Neighbor Irritates as well

O' Donnell is a Sweetie-Pie and the Detectives on the case are a Match for the Career Criminal Clark.

Some Suspense Ensues as the Police Close-In at a Ship-Yard Finale that is the Best this Effort can Offer.

Even the Title Gives the Thing Away.

It's an Unremarkable Straight-Forward Cops and Robbers Yarn that might Masquerade in Promotions as a Film-Noir. It Ain't.

The Good Actors and a Scene or Two that Stand-Out can't Rise the Movie Above Average.

A Rather Ho-Hum B-Movie, but for Die-Hard Crime Genre Fans...

Worth a Watch.

From 1951, Never Trust a Gambler stars Dane Clark, Cathy O'Donnell, and Tom Drake, directed by Ralph Murphy.

Clark plays a real piece of work, Steve Garry, wanted by the police to testify at a murder trial. His best friend is accused. He's afraid if he tells what he knows, his friend will be convicted, so he's on the run. That's his story anyway.

He goes to the home of his ex-wife Virginia (Cathy O'Donnell) who wants nothing to do with him as he broke her trust by gambling away their savings. He convinces her that he quit gambling and is doing an altruistic thing for his friend, so she lets him stay.

At the grocery store, a drunk detective (Rhys Williams) hits on her and later shows up at her house. When he attempts to assault her, Steve emerges from hiding. A fight ensues, the detective's gun goes off and goes into the ceiling, Steve hits him with something, and he dies.

It was an accident, but Steve can't go to the police until the trial is over. He puts the body in the man's car and pushes it into a ravine.

Of interest, this film appears to have been filmed during a rainy season. It seems to be raining constantly and everyone is wet. At the end, the weather seems to have cleared up.

Mildly entertaining, and I liked the blossoming romance between Drake, an officer investigating, and O'Donnell. My other favorite part was covering the gun hole in the ceiling either soap. I guess they never heard of spackle.

O'Donnell in a way sold out for happiness when she incensed Sam Goldwyn by marrying the son of his enemy, William Wyler. Her career was never quite the same after Goldwyn dumped her. Sadly she died on her 22nd anniversary of cancer, at age 46. She was a lovely actress.

Dane Clark was a poor man's John Garfield and hands in a decent performance. He turned to tv work early and enjoyed a prolific career in both tv and film.

Percy Helton played the store clerk. One of the most recognizable faces and voices in film v and tv.

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.