''Wine, Women and Horses'' is a 1937 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Louis King Louis King (June 28, 1898 – September 7, 1962) was an American actor and film director of westerns and adventure movies in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

and written by Roy Chanslor. The film stars

Barton MacLane Barton MacLane (December 25, 1902 – January 1, 1969) was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his role as General Martin Peterson on the 1960s NBC ...

Ann Sheridan Clara Lou "Ann" Sheridan (February 21, 1915 – January 21, 1967) was an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the films ''San Quentin'' (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938) with James Cagne ...

Dick Purcell Richard Gerold Purcell Jr. (August 6, 1905 – April 10, 1944) was an American actor best known for playing Marvel Comics' Captain America in the 1943 film serial, co-starring with Lorna Gray and Lionel Atwill. Purcell also appeared in fil ...

, Peggy Bates,

Walter Cassel Walter Cassel (May 15, 1910 – July 3, 2000) was an American operatic baritone and actor. He began his career singing on the radio during the mid-1930s and appeared in a couple of Hollywood musical films in the late 1930s. He made his first stag ...

and

Lottie Williams Lottie Williams (January 20, 1874 – November 16, 1962) was an American character actress whose career spanned both the silent and sound film eras. Early life Lottie Williams was born on January 20, 1874, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Career ...

. It is based on the 1933 novel ''Dark Hazard'' by

W. R. Burnett William Riley Burnett (November 25, 1899 April 25, 1982) was an American novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for the crime novel ''Little Caesar'', the film adaptation of which is considered the first of the classic American gangster ...

. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

on September 11, 1937. The screenplay concerns a gambler who tries to reform.

Plot

His gal pal Valerie buys compulsive gambler Jim Turner a meal after he goes broke. Jim takes off for points unknown and, stopping in a small Midwest town, he wins $20 off of George Mayhew in a game of horseshoes, then returns the money when he learns George can't afford to lose it. Jim rents a room from the Mayhews who run a boarding house and takes a liking to George's sister, Marjorie. The feeling is mutual, despite Marjorie's reservations about Jim's life as a gambler. She spurns her beau Pres to marry Jim. Jim promises to get a job and does, as a Chicago hotel's night manager. Becoming disgruntled with his boss, Jim goes out early Christmas morning and wins $3,000 gambling. A hotel guest, Bright, notices Jim's success and offers him a job looking after his racehorses in California. Jim accepts and, promising Marjorie his gambling days are over, they move to California. Though not gambling, Jim spends his time at the track cheering on Bright's mare, Lady Luck. Jim runs into Valerie while he and Marjorie are at the track, and the two ladies are introduced. Marjorie becomes upset after Jim tells her Valerie gave him some of her winnings and she retires for the evening. Jim leaves with Valerie and her escort, Broadway Willis, and the three go out with Jim winning $20,000 gambling. However, Marjorie leaves Jim a note telling him she can't live with him anymore, she is pregnant; and, she is returning home. Marjorie re-connects with Pres. Jim returns to the Mayhew house and is told by George that Jim's and Marjorie's baby boy died. Marjorie intercepts Jim as he leaves and discovers he is in one of his "down" periods as a gambler and headed east. Jim promises to quit gambling and get a job. Working at a cigar store, he runs in to George who has now become a professional gambler working at the local track. George tells Jim the mare, Lady Luck, is racing there. The horse injures its leg, throwing its rider. Jim buys the horse to prevent it from being destroyed. Jim rehabilitates Lady Luck, but is fired from his job at the cigar store. Jim realizes his lifestyle will never make him a good husband; that Marjorie yearns for the stability Pres can give her; and, he leaves. Jim returns to his gambling ways and reunites with Valerie.

Cast

as Jim Turner *

as Valerie *

as George Mayhew * Peggy Bates as Marjorie Mayhew *

as Pres. Barrow *

as Mrs. Mayhew *

Kenneth Harlan Kenneth Daniel Harlan (July 26, 1895 – March 6, 1967) was an American actor of the silent film era, playing mostly romantic leads or adventurer types. Early life Harlan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of George W. Harlan and ac ...

as Bright *

Charley Foy Charley Foy (June 12, 1898 – August 22, 1984) was an American actor of both the vaudeville stage and film. Son of Eddie Foy Sr., he was one of the famous "The Seven Little Foys", the seven children of the senior Foy, who joined him on stage in ...

as Broadway Willis *

Eugene Jackson Eugene W. Jackson II (December 25, 1916 – October 26, 2001) was an American child actor who was a regular of the '' Our Gang'' short series during the silent Pathé era. Career When he joined the gang, Jackson replaced the series' firs ...

as Eight Ball * Archie Robbins as Joe

References

External links

* * * * {{Louis King 1937 films 1937 drama films American black-and-white films American drama films Films based on American novels Films based on works by W. R. Burnett Films directed by Louis King Films about gambling American horse racing films Warner Bros. films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links