Carnival promoters and gangsters back a math genius rube in a big money bridge tournament.Carnival promoters and gangsters back a math genius rube in a big money bridge tournament.Carnival promoters and gangsters back a math genius rube in a big money bridge tournament.
Erville Alderson
- Sheriff
- (uncredited)
Harry C. Bradley
- Prof. Spring
- (uncredited)
Tyler Brooke
- Andrews
- (uncredited)
George Chandler
- Bank Clerk
- (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
- Spectator at Bridge Tournament
- (uncredited)
Harvey Clark
- Chairman
- (uncredited)
Frank Faylen
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film's earliest documented telecast took place in Honolulu Monday 13 May 1957 on KHVH (Channel 13); it first aired in Altoona PA 3 June 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), in Chicago 17 June 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), in Los Angeles 25 June 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11), in Seattle 15 July 1957 on KING (Channel 5), in Portland OR 31 July 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), in Omaha 7 August 1957 on WOW (Channel 6), in Norfolk VA 9 October 1957 on WTAR (Channel 3), in Hartford CT 7 December 1957 on WHCT (Channel 18), in Tampa 9 December 1957 on WFLA (Channel 8), in Philadelphia 2 January 1958 on WFIL (Channel 6), followed by San Francisco 16 November 1958 on KGO (Channel 7) and, finally by New York City 3 June 1961 on WCBS (Channel 2).
Featured review
I Watched This Movie So You Don't Have To
This probably would have been a reasonably entertaining 1930's screwball comedy, if actors the quality of John Barrymore and Carole Lombard had played the leading roles. In the hands of this mediocre cast, however, there are few memorable moments. The lead character is a rube with a genius for mathematics, played by an actor with little to no charisma. He gets pulled in with a group of con men (and one con lady) to enter what turns out to be, in a series of highly improbable events, a highly-publicized and high-dollar bridge tournament. Enter a group of thugs who try to get him to throw the game. The acting is nothing spectacular -- the thick "deese" and "dem" accents of the gangsters is almost comic, and not in a good way. A drunk scene that should have been a comedy highlight was ruined by the ineptness of the cast, who seemed to feel that acting drunk means simply slurring your words and randomly wiggling your head once in a while. Not a bit of chemistry between the actors, who turn in garden-variety performances.
Also, the direction was surprisingly uninspired, which may have been part of the problem. For example: At about 52 minutes into the film, an actor blows one of his lines, and apparently no one bothered with a retake. If the production crew doesn't care, how can you expect the cast to care?
BOTTOM LINE: There are better ways to spend an hour.
Also, the direction was surprisingly uninspired, which may have been part of the problem. For example: At about 52 minutes into the film, an actor blows one of his lines, and apparently no one bothered with a retake. If the production crew doesn't care, how can you expect the cast to care?
BOTTOM LINE: There are better ways to spend an hour.
helpful•24
- bbrebozo
- May 3, 2014
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Chain Lightning
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 3 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content