The Lady Pays Off * (1951, Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally. Gigi Perreau, Virginia Field, Ann Codee) – Classic Movie Review 11,986

‘The Most Beautiful I.O.U. a Gambler Ever Collected.’

Director Douglas Sirk’s 1951 Universal International Pictures American black and white romance comedy drama film The Lady Pays Off stars Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally. Gigi Perreau, Virginia Field, and Ann Codee.

Darnell plays Evelyn Warren, who is named Teacher of the Year but then goes to Reno and accidentally loses $7,000 at the roulette table. Next thing, she is forced into teaching the nine-year-old daughter, Diana (Perreau), of a wealthy Reno casino boss, Matt Braddock (McNally), when she is unable to pay her gambling dues.

The Lady Pays Off has touches of love, humour and drama, but both Darnell and the story are all at sea, so don’t bet on having a good time.

Sirk said he had ‘no feeling for this picture at all’.

The cast are Linda Darnell as Evelyn Walsh Warren, Stephen McNally as Matt Braddock, Gigi Perreau as Diane Braddock, Virginia Field as Kay Stoddard, Ann Codee as Marie, Lynne Hunter as Minnie, Nestor Paiva as Manuel, James Griffith as Ronald, Billy Wayne as Croupier, Katherine Warren as Dean Bessie Howell, William Newell [Billy Newell] as Bartender, Paul McVey as Speaker, Tristram Coffin as Carl, Judd Holdren as Face, Nolan Leary as Doctor, John Doucette as Cab Driver, and Ric Roman as Ricky.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,986

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