Tonight's Movie: Gambling Ship (1933) - A Universal Blu-ray Review

I've seen the vast majority of Cary Grant's films, but thanks to Universal I've recently caught a couple of his very earliest films for the first time.

I reviewed the entertaining comedy THIS IS THE NIGHT (1932) last month, and I've just finished watching GAMBLING SHIP (1933).

GAMBLING SHIP is a quick little 72-minute film from Paramount Pictures which I found lots of pre-Code fun.

Grant plays Ace Corbin, a Chicago mobster who decides he's tired of living dangerously and heads to California for a fresh start.

On board the train Ace falls for lovely Eleanor Kenniston (Benita Hume, the future Mrs. Ronald Colman).

Ace gives Eleanor a false name, while simultaneously unaware that the seemingly refined Eleanor is actually Eleanor La Velle, girlfriend of California-based gangster Joe Burke (Arthur Vinton).

Once in California, Eleanor discovers that Joe is in dire financial straits due to machinations by another crook, Pete Manning (Jack La Rue). She decides she must remain loyal to Joe long enough to get him out of trouble.

Ace's dreams of a new life on the West Coast are likewise stymied by Pete, and Ace decides to go into business with Joe running the title gambling ship. Eventually true identities and relationships come to light...meanwhile Pete lobs a literal bomb onto the ship.

I found this quite an entertaining little movie. It's certainly no classic, but at the same time it's a great example of the movie fun which is "out there" awaiting rediscovery. I enjoyed it.

The screenplay by Marcin and Seton I. Miller, adapted by Claude Binyon from a story by Peter Ruric, keeps things moving quickly, and I especially liked that the characters don't spend an inordinate amount of time fretting over lies and who's been in love with who.

Indeed, underneath her patrician exterior Eleanor is one tough little cookie, deciding she owes it to Joe to help him when he's down, at the expense of the true love she has just discovered. There's a great police interview scene where both Ace and Joe discover they're in competition with one another.

Grant, with an odd gray streak in his hair, is charismatic, showing somewhat more onscreen charm than he did in THIS IS THE NIGHT. One can see his stardom growing watching these films back to back.

The film also benefits from a terrific supporting cast, including the always-reliable Glenda Farrell and Roscoe Karns. Also in the cast are Edward Gargan, Marc Lawrence, Sam McDaniel, Edwin Maxwell, and Spencer Charters. Gail Patrick is said by IMDb to be a casino patron, but I didn't spot her.

I also especially enjoyed the shipboard set, including its neon lights glowing in the distance as patrons arrive by water taxi.

The movie was directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Max Marcin, two names that are new to me. It was filmed by Charles Lang.

The Blu-ray print is very good, with a strong soundtrack.

As with other recent Universal Blu-ray releases, there are no extras. Optional English-language captions are provided.

GAMBLING SHIP is recommended for fans of Cary Grant and pre-Codes.

Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Universal for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. It may be purchased from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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