''Gambler's Choice'' is a 1944 film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Chester Morris and Nancy Kelly.

Plot

In 1897, three children, Ross Hadley, Mike McGlennon and Mary Rogers, are brought before a judge for stealing a man's wallet. McGlennon and Rogers have no prior record, so they are released to their parents. Hadley, however, is sent to a reform school. In 1911, Hadley quits working for casino owner Chappie Wilson to start his own business, financed by Fay Lawrence, the rich widow of a bookie. To compete, Wilson hires a beautiful singer, Vi Parker, "the Garter Girl". When Hadley sees her perform, he recognizes her as Mary Rogers. He takes her to a police station, much to her confusion. There she is reunited with Lieutenant Mike McGlennon. Then Hadley takes them both to see his grand, brand-new gambling establishment. Hadley offers McGlennon a small share, but McGlennon is an honest cop. Hadley also offers "Vi" a job. She turns him down, but when Wilson and a henchman come to retrieve her, Hadley punches Wilson, and McGlennon takes care of the henchman, so she has to work for him. Lawrence is not happy about this arrangement and tries to fire her, but Hadley pays off her loan to him and kicks her out.

Cast

* Chester Morris as Ross Hadley * Nancy Kelly as Mary Rogers, aka Vi Parker * Russell Hayden as Mike McGlennon * Lee Patrick as Fay Lawrence *

Lloyd Corrigan Lloyd Corrigan (October 16, 1900 – November 5, 1969) was an American film and television actor, producer, screenwriter, and director who began working in films in the 1920s. The son of actress Lillian Elliott, Corrigan directed films, usually ...

as Ulysses S. Rogers * Sheldon Leonard as Chappie Wilson * Lyle Talbot as Yellow Gloves Weldon * Maxine Lewis as Bonnie D'Arcy * Tom Dugan as Benny * Charles Arnt as John McGrady * Billy Nelson as Danny May

Production

In 1942,

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

remade '' Manhattan Melodrama'', a film about two boyhood friends who grow up on opposite sides of the law. It was titled ''Gambler's Choice'', then '' Northwest Rangers''. This movie has a similar storyline, with two boyhood friends growing up on opposite sites of the law. In June 1943 Pine-Thomas signed a new contract with Paramount which included three musicals, and two bigger-budgeted pictures, plus three wartime movies which would co-star Chester Morris and Russell Hayden as a team (replacing Morris and Richard Arlen). Hayden had just left Columbia Pictures. In September 1943 Pine Thomas bought a story by James Edward Grant and Howard called "Tenderloin" as a vehicle for Chester Morris. (They also bought ''Hell's Afloat'' for Morris which was never made.) Russell Hayden and Nancy Kelly were cast in November 1943 when the film's title was changed to ''Gambler's Choice''. Filming took place in December 1943.Of Local Origin New York Times 9 December 1943: 33

Soundtrack

* Nancy Kelly - "The Sidewalks of New York" (music by Charles Lawlor, lyrics by James W. Blake) * Nancy Kelly - "Hold Me Just a Little Closer" (music by Albert von Tilzer, lyrics by Benjamin Barnett)

References

External links

* *
''Gambler's Choice''
at

TCMDB Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of ...

''Gambler's Choice''
at BFI
Review of movie
at ''Variety'' *
Review
at ''Variety'' {{Use mdy dates, date=February 2015 1944 films 1944 crime drama films 1940s American films 1940s English-language films American black-and-white films American crime drama films American films about gambling Films directed by Frank McDonald Films scored by Mort Glickman English-language crime drama films