The Winning Ticket (1935)

An Italian-American barber, Joe Thomasello, buys a sweepstakes ticket but doesn't tell his wife, Nora, as she takes a dim view of gambling in any form. The ticket turns out to be the prize ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Reisner

Writers:

Robert Pirosh (story), George Seaton (story),

Stars:

Leo Carrillo, Louise Fazenda, Ted Healy

Cast

Cast overview:
Leo Carrillo	...	Joe Tomasello
Louise Fazenda	...	Nora Tomasello
Ted Healy	...	Eddie Dugan
Irene Hervey	...	Mary Tomasello
James Ellison	...	Jimmy
Luis Alberni	...	Tony
Purnell Pratt	...	Mr. Powers
Akim Tamiroff	...	Guiseppe
Betty Jane Graham	...	Noreen Tomasello
Billy Watson	...	Joey Tomasello Jr.
John Indrisano	...	Lefty Costello
Roland Fitzpatrick	...	Mickey Tomasello
Clara Blandick	...	Aunt Maggie

Storyline

An Italian-American barber, Joe Thomasello, buys a sweepstakes ticket but doesn't tell his wife, Nora, as she takes a dim view of gambling in any form. The ticket turns out to be the prize winner but Joe can't find it where he hid it from Nora, as the baby in the family found it also. The frantic search leads to the family being jailed.

---

Plot Keywords:

ticket | baby | sweepstakes | barber | gambling | 

---

Taglines:

Goofy...but Gosh....Awfully Human (origianal ad)

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sorte Grande e Nada Mais

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Pleasant Comedy Programmer

The usual MGM gloss is applied in a different way to this comedy programmer as no expense is spared in making sure that the many roles are filled with good character comedians -- many of whom would later find employment as comedy ethnics in Preston Sturges' stock company. The plot, such as it is, involves an Italian barber in New York who buys a winning ticket in the Irish Sweepstakes. Leo Carillo is warm and funny in the lead, even if the redoubtable Louise Fazenda is largely wasted playing straightwoman as his wife. Luis Alberni gets a sizable funny role. Ted Healy is annoying, as usual.

The script is credited to Robert Pirosh based on a story by George Seaton -- the latter's second movie credit. It's not a great movie, but it is very pleasant.