Gambling Lady *** (1934, Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Pat O’Brien, Claire Dodd, C Aubrey Smith, Robert Barrat, Philip Reed) – Classic Movie Review 6,719

The 1934 romantic thriller film Gambling Lady stars Barbara Stanwyck as Lady Lee, who heads off to the gaming tables, and encounters murder, blackmail and handsome Joel McCrea.

Director Archie Mayo’s 1934 romantic drama mystery thriller film Gambling Lady 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, and encounters murder, blackmail and handsome, wealthy games-player Garry Madison (played by Joel McCrea).

[Spoiler alert] Lady Lee falls in love with Garry Madison and favourably considers his marriage proposal, even though her long-time admirer, the bookie Charlie Lang (Pat O’Brien), has proposed to her. Later, there is trouble when Garry’s old girlfriend Sheila Aiken (Claire Dodd) returns from Europe, and more trouble when Garry is accused of killing Charlie.

The ideally teamed stars Stanwyck and McCrea make an attractive pair with good chemistry, and the plot, based on an involved story by Doris Malloy, comes thick and speedy, while Ralph Block and Doris Malloy’s screenplay and Mayo’s direction are slick and effective. C Aubrey Smith is another asset as Peter Madison, the hero’s high society father.

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

Gambling Lady runs a brisk 66 minutes, is made and 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, is scored by Bernhard Kaun, and is designed Anton Grot.

Release date: March 31, 1934 (US).

With Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea very popular, it did well. Budget: $230,000. Box office $653,000. It is the first of six films with Stanwyck and McCrea.

Supposedly, Archie Mayo was notorious for groping his leading ladies. When he tried to pinch Stanwyck’s bottom, she grabbed his arm and told him to cut it out.

Stanwyck went on to star in The Lady Gambles (1949).

Robert Barrat again plays Stanwyck’s father after the previous year’s Baby Face.

Barbara Stanwyck in Gambling Lady.

The cast

The cast are Barbara Stanwyck as Lady Lee, Joel McCrea as Garry Madison, Pat O’Brien as Charlie Lang, Claire Dodd as Sheila Aiken, C Aubrey Smith as Peter Madison, Robert Barrat as Mike Lee, Arthur Vinton as Fallin, Phillip Reed as Steve, Philip Faversham as Don Carroway, Robert Elliott as Graves, Ferdinand Gottschalk as Cornelius, Willard Robertson as District Attorney, Huey White as Bodyguard Margaret Morris, Willie Fung and Stanley Mack.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6,719

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