''Gambling Ship'' is a 1933 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

drama film directed by

Louis J. Gasnier Louis Joseph Gasnier (September 15, 1875 – February 15, 1963) was a French-American film director, producer, screenwriter and stage actor. A cinema pioneer, Gasnier shepherded the early career of comedian Max Linder, co-directed the enormously ...

and

Max Marcin Max Marcin (5 May 1879 – 30 March 1948) was a Polish-born American playwright, novelist, screenwriter, and film director. He wrote for 47 films between 1916 and 1949. He also directed six films between 1931 and 1936. His stage work inclu ...

, and starring

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...

and

Benita Hume Benita Hume (14 October 1907 – 1 November 1967) was an English theatre and film actress. She appeared in more than 40 films between 1925 and 1955. Life and career She was married to film actor Ronald Colman from 1938 to his death in 1958 ...

. It was based on Paul Cain's short stories: "Fast One", "Lead Party", "Velvet" and "The Heat", which were published in '' Black Mask'' magazine. It was released on June 23, 1933. Ace Corbin retires from the racket as a gambling boss, but the enemies attempt to stop him.

Plot

Ace Corbin, a charming Chicago gangster, is acquitted of murder charges, for which he was framed by Pete Manning. He decides to reform and begin a new life in California. On the train, he falls in love with Eleanor La Velle, a gambler's girlfriend. They both conceal their true identities. In Southern California, Eleanor discovers that her lover, Joe Burke, owner of the ''Casino Del Mar'' steamer, which operates legally outside the

three-mile limit The three-mile limit refers to a traditional and now largely obsolete conception of the international law of the seas which defined a country's territorial waters, for the purposes of trade regulation and exclusivity, as extending as far as the r ...

, is in debt for $9,000 because Pete Manning's thugs are ruining his business. Eleanor chooses to remain loyal and help Joe with his business, rather than leave him for Ace. Joe and his right-hand man Blooey offer to turn over the casino to Ace so he can improve the business and seek vengeance on Manning. Ace resists becoming involved until Manning's men threaten him. When Ace runs the casino, he has the water taxis bring Manning's patrons to his steamship instead. The first evening, Ace encounters Eleanor on board the ship and she discovers his true identity. Eleanor, who is still in love with Ace, remains on the ship, even after Manning's men cause an explosion and fire on board. After the fire is out, Ace and Eleanor remains on board for the night. In the morning, the district attorney questions them both, and Ace discovers Eleanor's real identity, including her relationship with Joe. Also in attendance is Joe, who likewise discovers Ace and Eleanor's relationship. Back aboard the casino steamship, during a storm Joe and Ace accuse Eleanor of being a two-timer and lying to them both. Meanwhile, Manning and his men sneak aboard and kill Joe. Blooey releases the anchor, and the crashing waves wash Manning and his men off the deck. Ace, Blooey, and Eleanor jump to safety with life preservers. Later, Ace and Eleanor marry.

Cast

as Ace Corbin *

as Eleanor La Velle *

Jack La Rue Jack La Rue (born Gaspare Biondolillo; May 3, 1902 – January 11, 1984) was an American film and stage actor. Early years The son of Sicilian immigrants Pasquale and Concetta Biondolillo, La Rue was born in New York City. His father sailed to ...

as Pete Manning *

Glenda Farrell Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 – May 1, 1971) was an American actress. Farrell personified the smart and sassy, wisecracking blonde of the Classical Hollywood films. Farrell's career spanned more than 50 years, appearing in numerous Broadwa ...

as Jeanne Sands *

Roscoe Karns Roscoe, also spelled Rosco or Roscow, may refer to: People * Roscoe (name) Places United States * Roscoe, California (disambiguation) *Roscoe Township (disambiguation) * Roscoe, Georgia, an unincorporated community *Roscoe, Illinois, a village * ...

as Blooey *Arthur Vinton as Joe Burke * Charles Williams as Baby Face * Edwin Maxwell as D.A. *

Spencer Charters Spencer Charters (March 25, 1875 – January 25, 1943) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 220 films between 1920 and 1943, mostly in small supporting roles. Biography Charters was born in Duncannon, Pennsylvania. Until ...

as Detective

Production

Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters; October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 2 ...

was considered for the role of Eleanor La Velle. A technical advisor, known as "Mr. 100" to maintain his anonymity, familiarized the actors with the "details of the parlance, activities, and manners of the gambling world". Some of the scenes in the movie were filmed in

San Pedro, California San Pedro ( ; Spanish: " St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' film review said: "For this stale and profitless narrative, the producers have gathered an attractive cast. Although they are wasted in the leading rôles, Cary Grant is a likable and intelligent actor and Benita Hume is a charming British actress. Roscoe Karns is helpful on the humorous side and Jack La Rue gives one of his vivid reptilian performances as the leader of the opposition gang."

Home media

''Gambling Ship'' was released on DVD on September 28, 2016.

References

External links

* {{Louis J. Gasnier 1933 films 1933 drama films American drama films American black-and-white films Films directed by Louis J. Gasnier Films about gambling Paramount Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films