Inside Straight ** (1951, David Brian, Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan, Mercedes McCambridge, Paula Raymond) – Classic Movie Review 12,505

Director Gerald Mayer’s well acted 1951 MGM American Western  film Inside Straight stars the good team of David Brian, Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan, Mercedes McCambridge and Paula Raymond.

Inside Straight is a minor Western melodrama of gambling and greed in 19th-century San Francisco, with bank boss Ada Stritch (Mercedes McCambridge) going over the top with hatred for ruthless tycoon Rip Maccool (David Brian), who has come to try to stop a run on the bank. Arlene Dahl and Paula Raymond play his one-time wives who have, respectively, done the dirty on him and passed on during labour.

Both Brian and McCambridge are excellent, bringing passion and distinction to this otherwise pretty dull piece, directed by MGM boss Louis B Mayer’s nephew, Gerald. However, the good cast helps, also including Claude Jarman Jnr, Lon Chaney Jnr, Monica Lewis, John Hoyt, Roland Winters, Barbara Billingsley, Richard Hale, Hayden Rorke, and Lou Nova.

It flopped, costing $1,723,000 and earning $769,000 globally, losing MGM $1,282,000.

Gerald Mayer was born on 5 June 1919, the nephew of MGM studios owner Louis B Mayer and the son of studio manager Jerry Mayer.

He directed The Violent Hour, Inside Straight, The Sellout, Holiday for Sinners, The Marauders and Diamond Safari before a long, busy TV career.

Arlene Dahl (August 11, 1925 – November 29, 2021).

The cast are David Brian as Rip Maccool, Arlene Dahl as Lily Douvane, Barry Sullivan as Johnny Sanderson, Mercedes McCambridge as Ada Stritch, Paula Raymond as Zoe Carnot, Claude Jarman Jr as Rip MacCool (Age 16), Lon Chaney Jr as Shocker, Monica Lewis as Cafe Singer, John Hoyt as Flutey Johnson, Roland Winters as Alexander Tomson, Barbara Billingsley as Miss Meadson, Richard Hale as Undertaker, Hayden Rorke as Carlson, Jerry Hartleben as John Albert MacCool (Age 3), Dale Hartleben as John Albert MacCool (Age 8), and Lou Nova as Connegan.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,505

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com