The Big Bluff (1955)When a scheming fortune hunter finds his rich wife is not going to die as expected, he and his lover make other plans to get her millions. Director:W. Lee Wilder |
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Title: The Big Bluff (1955)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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John Bromfield | ... |
Ricardo De Villa
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| Martha Vickers | ... |
Valerie Bancroft
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Robert Hutton | ... |
Dr. Peter Kirk
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Rosemarie Stack | ... |
Fritzie Darvel
(as Rosemarie Bowe)
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Eve Miller | ... |
Marsha Jordan
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Max Palmer | ... |
Fullmer
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Eddie Bee | ... |
Don Darvel
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Robert Bice | ... |
Dr. Harrison
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Pierre Watkin | ... |
Winthrop
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Beal Wong | ... |
Art Dealer
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Rusty Wescoatt | ... |
Frank
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Mitchell Kowall | ... |
Coroner
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Jack Daly | ... |
Master of Ceremonies
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Paul McGuire | ... |
Butler
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George Conrad | ... |
Bell Boy
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
When scheming fortune hunter and erstwhile Latin lover Ricardo De Villa learns that a wealthy but sickly widow has terminal heart disease, he seduces and marries the vulnerable millionairess. Playing the part of a faithful and doting husband, he carries on a torrid affair with sexy exotic dancer Fritzi Darvel while avoiding the suspicious eyes of her jealous bongo-playing husband. When his wife's condition seems to go into remission, the impatient De Villa decides on action that will hasten her seemingly inevitable death. Written by Gabe Taverney (duke1029@aol.com)
Certificate:
ApprovedParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 June 1955 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Worthy Deceivers See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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[She slaps him hard]
Fritzi Darvel: You two-timing, no good... And on top of it, you don't even try to hide it! Carrying on an affair with another woman right under my nose! Why, you're not going to do it, and what's more, I think you're a phony! And I was ready to leave my husband! For what? For a big bluff like you!
[She succumbs to his persistant, passionate kiss]
Ricardo 'Rick' De Villa: You know you're very beautiful when you get mad! But listen, no other woman ...
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Did You Know?
Quotes
Fritzi Darvel: Oh, so that's it! I had an idea you were playing up to that dame![She slaps him hard]
Fritzi Darvel: You two-timing, no good... And on top of it, you don't even try to hide it! Carrying on an affair with another woman right under my nose! Why, you're not going to do it, and what's more, I think you're a phony! And I was ready to leave my husband! For what? For a big bluff like you!
[She succumbs to his persistant, passionate kiss]
Ricardo 'Rick' De Villa: You know you're very beautiful when you get mad! But listen, no other woman ...
See more »
W. Lee Wilder's THE BIG BLUFF will never be a threat to his brother Billy's genre-defining classic, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, but on its own terms it's a nifty little quickie with a good story and a nice trick ending.
When it starts, this film looks so cheap -- I mean, Ed Wood cheap -- you're tempted to hang it up, but stick with it. It improves as it goes along. The writing and cast are perfectly adequate and it's more entertaining than a lot of big budget A pictures.
An unusual feature of this film is a reversal of the usual noir femme fatale dynamic. Here it's a sexy guy, an "homme fatal" if you will, who seduces a rich, love-starved widow.
Maltin's book (2003) doesn't even list this film, but it's included in the inexpensive 6-CD "Ultimate Film Noir Collection", which I recommend for its intriguing line-up of public domain B-picture rarities, which range from junk to cult classic B's (DETOUR, THE HITCHHIKER) to even a couple great ones (Welles' THE STRANGER).