Spielfieber (1949)

Spielfieber: Directed by Michael Gordon. With Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Preston, Stephen McNally, Edith Barrett. A desperate husband tries to find help for his wife suffering from addictive gambling.

“From 1949, The Lady Gambles stars Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Preston, and Stephen McNally.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStanwyck plays Joan Boothe, who accompanies reporter husband David (Preston) to Las Vegas where he is working on a story about the Hoover Dam. Left to her own devices, she becomes interested in gambling to the point where it becomes an addiction. Though she tries to fight it, she canu0026#39;t, and ultimately loses her husband and falls into the clutches of Horace Corrigan, who runs the casino and has her number.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eStanwyck does well showing Joanu0026#39;s downward spiral. The film dabbles in psychology in Joanu0026#39;s relationship with her older sister Ruth (Edith Barrett) for whom she takes responsibility, though her husband objects.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGood performances all around, as well as some brutal and scary moments. Definitely keeps your interest.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWatch for Tony Curtis in one of his first speaking roles as a telegram delivery boy. The director told him, u0026quot;All you want is a tip.u0026quot; Heu0026#39;s adorable.”