The darkly beautiful Gail Patrick was a gem at playing society bitches, throwing out acidic remarks without regret, and stepping on the toes of the heroine. But every once in a while, she snuck in her vulnerability and played the heroine, as she does in this soap opera with elements of crime drama. Patrick is a glamorous cabaret singer who gave up her career for love and marriage, but unfortunately, the man she chooses is a notorious gambling racketeer. The handsome and charming Ricardo Cortez is the not so noble husband, neglecting her until she decides to file for divorce and return to her career, only to be suckered back in by his promise to turn over a new leaf. But you can't teach an old gambler new tricks, and with the crooked stakes spinning the wheel, him getting out is a real pipe dream that Patrick and cortex are doomed to repeat over and over.
Young and handsome Tom Brown plays Cortez's younger brother, a gambling addict drawn in with his new spouse June Martel and at the top of Cortez's list to protect. This becomes a drama about how one can unintentionally ruin the lives of the people they love, well written and acted, and filled with some great character performances. Dorothy Peterson as Cortez's loyal secretary, Louis Calhern as Patrick's mentor and J. Carroll Naish as one of Cortez's gambling associates, all superb. I rank this highly for grabbing the audience right away, presenting the leading male character as an anti- hero, giving leading lady Patrick a different type of role to sink her teeth into. Snappy direction, thrilling photography and editing and a really thoughtful screenplay make this one nearly excellent.
Young and handsome Tom Brown plays Cortez's younger brother, a gambling addict drawn in with his new spouse June Martel and at the top of Cortez's list to protect. This becomes a drama about how one can unintentionally ruin the lives of the people they love, well written and acted, and filled with some great character performances. Dorothy Peterson as Cortez's loyal secretary, Louis Calhern as Patrick's mentor and J. Carroll Naish as one of Cortez's gambling associates, all superb. I rank this highly for grabbing the audience right away, presenting the leading male character as an anti- hero, giving leading lady Patrick a different type of role to sink her teeth into. Snappy direction, thrilling photography and editing and a really thoughtful screenplay make this one nearly excellent.
