''Lucky Night'' (1939) is a
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
movie from
MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
starring
Robert Taylor and
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...
, directed by
Norman Taurog
Norman Rae Taurog (February 23, 1899 – April 7, 1981) was an American film director and screenwriter. From 1920 to 1968, Taurog directed 180 films. At the age of 32, he received the Academy Award for Best Director for '' Skippy'' (1931). He i ...
.
Plot
Two people meet in a park (Cora, played by
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...
, and William "Bill" Overton, played by
Robert Taylor). They become acquainted and each discovers that the other is also poor. They try to get 50 cents to eat at a restaurant but a man complains to the police. They convince a policeman to give them 50 cents by saying that they are engaged (which they are not).
While walking, they drop the money without knowing it. When their restaurant bill comes to 50 cents, they suddenly realize they must have lost it. Someone leaves a coin on the table, Bill tells Cora to steal it, which she does. Bill spots a slot machine in the restaurant and tells Cora to gamble, which she does and wins. Bill and Cora go to a casino, win a car in a game and make more money gambling.
The two get drunk and wake up to find out they are married. Bill gets a job but still gets the urge to gamble; Cora doesn't care to live that life, so she leaves Bill and goes back to her father. Bill goes to her house to get her back and he succeeds.
Credited cast
*
Robert Taylor as William 'Bill' Overton
*
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...
as Cora Jordan Overton
* Joseph Allen as Joe Hilton
*
Henry O'Neill
Henry O'Neill (August 10, 1891 – May 18, 1961) was an American film actor known for playing gray-haired fathers, lawyers, and similarly dignified roles during the 1930s and 1940s.
Early years
He was born in Orange, New Jersey.
Career ...
as H. Calvin Jordan, Cora's father
*
Douglas Fowley
Douglas Fowley (born Daniel Vincent Fowley, May 30, 1911 – May 21, 1998) was an American movie and television actor in more than 240 films and dozens of television programs, He is probably best remembered for his role as the frustrated m ...
as George, Bill's friend
* Bernard Nedall as 'Dusty' Sawyer
*
Charles Lane as Mr. Carpenter, Paint Store Owner
*
Bernadene Hayes
Bernadene Hayes (March 15, 1912 – August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actress.
Early years
Hayes was born at 3855 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hayes. She had three brothers an ...
as Blondie, Clerk at Carpenters
*
Gladys Blake
Gladys Blake (born Gladys Timmons, May 12, 1910 – May 21, 1983) was an American character actress from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Biography
Blake was born on January 12, 1910 in Luray, Virginia. Her mother, Ada Timmons, died when Gladys was l ...
as Blackie, Clerk at Carpenters
*
Marjorie Main
Mary Tomlinson (February 24, 1890 – April 10, 1975), professionally known as Marjorie Main, was an American character actress and singer of the Classical Hollywood period, best known as a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player in the 1940s and ...
as Mrs. Briggs, the Land Lady
*
Edward Gargan
Edward Gargan (July 17, 1902 – February 19, 1964) was an American film and television actor.
Career
He was born of Irish parents in Brooklyn, New York. He was the elder brother of actor William Gargan.
As soon as he had left college, he we ...
as Police Man in Park
*
Irving Bacon
Irving Bacon (born Irving Von Peters; September 6, 1893 – February 5, 1965) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 500 films.
Early years
Bacon was the son of entertainers Millar Bacon and Myrtle Vane. He was born in St. Jose ...
as Bus Conductor
*
Oscar O'Shea
Oscar O'Shea (8 October 1881 – 6 April 1960) was a Canadian-American character actor with over 100 film appearances from 1937 to 1953.
Early years
O'Shea was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Acting
O'Shea was a comic actor who earne ...
as Lieutenant Murphy
Box office
According to MGM records the film earned $716,000 in the US and Canada and $364,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $126,000.
References
External links
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{{Norman Taurog
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
Films directed by Norman Taurog
1939 films
1939 comedy films
American black-and-white films
American comedy films
1930s English-language films
1930s American films