Gambling Lady *** (1934, Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Pat O’Brien, Claire Dodd, C Aubrey Smith, Robert Barrat, Philip Reed) – Classic Movie Review 6719

Director Archie Mayo’s 1934 thriller stars Barbara Stanwyck as the title’s gambling Lady Lee, who, undeterred by her father’s gambling-debt suicide, heads off to the gaming tables, encounters murder, blackmail and handsome, wealthy games-player Garry Madison (played by Joel McCrea).

Lady Lee falls in love with Garry Madison and considers his marriage proposal, even though she is married to Mike Lee (Robert Barrat), who is accused of a killing.

The ideally teamed stars Stanwyck and McCrea make an attractive pair with good chemistry, and the plot, based on a story by Doris Malloy, comes thick and speedy, while Ralph Block and Doris Malloy’s screenplay and Mayo’s direction are slick and effective.

Also in the cast are Pat O’Brien, Claire Dodd, C Aubrey Smith, Philip Reed, Arthur Treacher, Philip Haversham, Arthur Vinton, Frederick Gottschalk, Robert Elliott, Margaret Morris, Willie Fung and Stanley Mack.

Gambling Lady runs a brisk 66 minutes, is released by Warner Bros, is written by Ralph Block and Doris Malloy, is shot in black and white by George Barnes, is produced by Henry Blanke, and designed Anton Grot.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6719

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