The Gambler and the Lady * (1952, Dane Clark, Naomi Chance, Kathleen Byron, Anthony Forwood, Meredith Edwards, Eric Pohlmann, Jane Griffiths, Percy Marmont) – Classic Movie Review 13,062

‘Their wheel of fortune was spun by the COLD STEEL of an AUTOMATIC!’ Hammer Films’ 1952 British crime thriller film The Gambler and the Lady stars Dane Clark, Naomi Chance, Kathleen Byron and Anthony Forwood.

‘Their wheel of fortune was spun by the COLD STEEL of an AUTOMATIC!’

Directors Pat Jenkins and Sam Newfield’s routine and unremarkable 1952 British crime thriller film The Gambler and the Lady stars Dane Clark, Naomi Chance, Kathleen Byron, Anthony Forwood, Meredith Edwards, Eric Pohlmann, Jane Griffiths, and Percy Marmont.

Dane Clark stars as the social climber American gambler Jim Forster who  owns illegal casinos and a nightclub in London. He meets the married English Lady Susan Willens (Naomi Chance) – by chance! – in London, where he has a lot of enemies, including his vengeful ex-mistress Pat (Kathleen Byron) and some greedy crooks.

Dirk Bogarde’s partner Anthony Forwood plays Chance’s husband, Lord Peter Willens, in this glum, cheap-looking Hammer Films studio’s thriller, with an interesting cast working valiantly against Sam Newfield’s less interesting script. The B movie actors are well chosen, look right and fit their characters ideally.

Also in the cast are Julian Somers, Thomas Gallagher, Martin Benson, George Pastell, Max Bacon, Mona Washbourne, Anthony Ireland, Richard Shaw, Robert Adair, Robert Brown, Paul Sheridan, Hal Osmond, and André Mikhelson.

In case you are wondering about the two directors, new scenes were added for the US release in footage directed by Sam Newfield.

The Gambler and the Lady is directed by Pat Jenkins and Sam Newfield, runs 74 minutes (UK), is made by Hammer Film Productions, is released by Exclusive Films (UK) and Lippert Pictures (US), is written by Sam Newfield, is shot in black and white by Walter J Harvey, is produced by Anthony Hinds, is scored by Ivor Slaney, and is designed by J Elder Wills.

It was a Boxing Day treat in America. Release date: 26 December 1952 (US).

British release date: January 26, 1953 (UK).

It was shot at Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England.

The cast are Dane Clark as Jim Forster, Kathleen Byron as Pat, Naomi Chance as Lady Susan Willens, Meredith Edwards as Dave Davies, Anthony Forwood as Lord Peter Willens, Eric Pohlmann as Arturo Colonna, Anthony Ireland as Richard Farning, Max Bacon as Maxie, Mona Washbourne as Miss Minter, Jane Griffiths as Lady Jane Greer, Richard Shaw as Louis, Julian Somers as Licasi, George Pastell as Jacko Spina, Enzo Coticchia as Angelo Colonna, Hal Osmond as Stable groom, Percy Marmont as Lord Willens-Hortland, Felix Felton as boxing promoter, Robert Adair, Robert Brown, Paul Sheridan, and André Mikhelson.

Dane Clark (born Bernhardt Zanvilevitz; February 26, 1912 – September 11, 1998) was known for playing Joe Average. He said is about himself first so others couldn’t say it.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,062

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