Gambling Ship ** (1933, Cary Grant, Benita Hume, Jack La Rue, Arthur Vinton, Roscoe Karns, Glenda Farrell) – Classic Movie Review 10,402

Directors Louis J Gasnier and Max Marcin’s slightly soggy 1933 mob tale Gambling Ship stars Cary Grant in one of his least known movies as retired gambling boss Ace Corbin, who is caught between warring gangsters Pete Manning (Jack La Rue) and Joe Burke (Arthur Vinton), who own the shipboard casinos he wants to spoil.

The young Grant, for whose luminous and charming presence this vintage Paramount Pictures B-movie is certainly worth a look, takes a few moments off from the basic, predictable action to romance pretty Eleanor La Velle (Benita Hume), Burke (Vinton)’s moll.

The old-style acting is more than acceptable from the quality cast, and cinematographer Charles Lang’s well-photographed black and white film moves swiftly along and is nice and brief at 72 minutes – it is only the screenplay that is waterlogged.

Also in the cast are Roscoe Karns, Glenda Farrell, Jack La Rue, Arthur Vinton, Charles Williams, Edwin Maxwell, Frank Moran, Frank Mills, Spencer Charters, Syd Saylor, Edward Gargan, Ortho Wright, William Welsh, Harry Shutan, Evelyn Selbie, Gail Patrick, Louis Natheaux, Theodore Lorch, Marc Lawrence, Arthur Hoyt, Jack Grey, Carrie Daumery, Gum Chung, Kate Campbell, Sammy Bricker, Hooper Aitchley and Larry Alexander.

It was released on 23 June 1933 (US).

It was shot at Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood.

The screenplay by Max Marcin (screenplay), Seton I Miller (writer) and Claude Binyon (adaptation) is based on stories by Peter Ruric.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,402

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