Two Dollar Bettor (1951)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Edward L. Cahn

Writer:

William Raynor (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

9 September 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Don't Be A Sucker ! The true story of a nice guy "taken" - but good !

Plot:

An honest bank employee gets hooked on horse racing, and starts to embezzle bank funds in an attempt to recoup his losses.

Plot Keywords:

Bookmaker | Racetrack | Family Relationships | Violence | Taxicab

Cast

Steve Brodie	...	Rick Bowers - aka Rick Slate
Marie Windsor	...	Mary Slate
John Litel	...	John Hewitt
Barbara Logan	...	Nancy Hewitt
Robert Sherwood	...	Phillip Adams
Barbara Bestar	...	Diane 'Dee' Hewitt
Walter Kingsford	...	Carleton P. Adams
Don Shelton	...	George Irwin
Kay Lavelle	...	Grandma Sarah Irwin (as Kay La Velle)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer	...	Chuck Nordlinger (as Carl Switzer)
Isabel Randolph	...	Margaret Adams
Ralph Reed	...	Teddy Cosgrove Phelps
Barbara Billingsley	...	Miss Pierson (as Barbara Billinsley)
Ralph Hodges	...	Chester Mitchell
Madelon Mitchell	...	Grace Shepard (as Madelon Mitchel)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip Van Zandt	...	Ralph Shepard
Dick Elliott	...	Hefty Racetrack Drunk Bettor (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Tom (uncredited)
Kit Guard	...	Racetrack Extra (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Racetrack Extra (uncredited)
Jonathan Hole	...	Race Track Drunk Bettor (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Racetrack Extra (uncredited)
Paul Maxey	...	Lawrence Crane (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Man at Racetrack (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Joe (uncredited)
Eric Wilton	...	Adams' Butler (uncredited)
Barbara Woodell	...	Mrs. Hewitt's Photograph (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward L. Cahn

Writing credits
Howard Emmett Rogers		(novel "The Far Turn") uncredited
William Raynor		(screenplay) (as Bill Raynor)

Produced by
Edward L. Cahn	....	producer
Henry Spitz	....	associate producer
Jack Broder	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Irving Gertz

Cinematography by
Charles Van Enger

Film Editing by
Sherman A. Rose		(as Sherman Rose)

Art Direction by
Boris Leven

Makeup Department
Sam Kaufman	....	makeup artist
Ann Locker	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clarence Eurist	....	assistant director

Sound Department
William Randall	....	sound

Special Effects by
Jack R. Glass	....	special photographic effects

Music Department
Irving Gertz	....	musical director

Other crew
Herman Cohen	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Jack Broder Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Realart Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Better Television Distribution (2006) (worldwide) (TV)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (video)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2001) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Beginner's Luck (UK)

Runtime:

USA:72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Jack Broder Productions Inc.

Soundtrack:

Querido

"Racer Madness".........An improbable mix of true noir and Leave It To Beaver naiveté that actually works!

Or..."Post Time for Topper". You won't see Ward, Wally or The Beaver. But you DO get to see Barbara Billingsly (June) as the fall guy's secretary. AND Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer as his younger daughter's dizzy boyfriend. This is the story of an honest, widowed family man and bank officer who becomes addicted to offtrack horse betting, loses large sums of money, and is lured deeper into the abyss by his bookie's vampish courier, Marie Windsor-----Filmland's best, sexiest, and probably most prolific villainess.

The rare contrast of authentic noir and sappy "back at the homestead" scenes provides for some unintentional humor, giving the movie the flavor of a high school dope-scare film from the 60s. However, this film isn't in the "so bad it's good" category. The performances and scripting are top notch, even though some of the melodramatic plot elements are quite implausible and even a bit ridiculous. Nevertheless, the film is effectively paced and truly suspenseful. Plenty of thrills....and a few giggles.

Highly entertaining