The Las Vegas Story (1952)

The arrival in Las Vegas of a businessman and his glamorous wife creates a complex web of murder and deceit.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Jay Dratler (story), Earl Felton (screenplay)

Stars:

Jane Russell, Victor Mature, Vincent Price

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jane Russell	...	Linda Rollins
Victor Mature	...	Lt. Dave Andrews
Vincent Price	...	Lloyd Rollins
Hoagy Carmichael	...	Happy
Brad Dexter	...	Tom Hubler
Gordon Oliver	...	Mr. Drucker
Jay C. Flippen	...	Capt. H.A. Harris
Will Wright	...	Mike Fogarty
Bill Welsh	...	Mr. Martin
Ray Montgomery	...	Desk Clerk
Colleen Miller	...	Mary
Robert J. Wilke	...	Clayton (as Robert Wilke)

Storyline

Investment broker Lloyd Rollins, insisting to his wife Linda that they stop at Las Vegas on their trip from Boston, begins to gamble heavily. Linda visits the Last Chance, a casino where she used to sing, and where she meets police lieutenant Dave Andrews, with whom she had a brief affair some years earlier. Insurance investigator Tom Hubler soon arrives to keep an eye on Linda's valuable necklace for his company, unaware that Rollins hocked the necklace with Clayton, owner of the Last Chance. Lt. Andrews, rebuffed by Linda, learns that Clayton has been murdered. He deduces the killer's identity and begins a deadly chase when he learns the killer has taken Linda hostage and fled into the desert.

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Taglines:

THE LOSER... wins the jackpot... of bullets... when these two boys fight it out!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 1952 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Die Spielhölle von Las Vegas

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom takes off with Linda in a 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe.

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Goofs

When Linda goes to see the Last Chance, where she used to sing, she starts out riding in one cab and then is shown arriving in a different cab. Note the first has the word "Plymouth" above the grill and no number above the windshield.

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Quotes

Mary: I guess it would be only fair if you were to kiss Bill.
Linda Rollins: If I kissed Bill there wouldn't be anything fair about it.

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Jane Russell: Body and Soul (1997)

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Soundtracks

I Get Along Without You Very Well
Music and Lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael
Performed by Jane Russell (uncredited)

User Reviews

My Resistance Is Low

Substitute Victor Mature for the part that Robert Mitchum normally played in these RKO films of the Fifties and you've got The Las Vegas Story. Wonder what Mitch was doing at this time?

Nothing terribly groundbreaking in this film. Jane Russell and Vincent Price arrive back in Las Vegas where Jane used to be a singer when she was a single gal. Also working there is ex-boyfriend Victor Mature now with the Clark County Sheriff.

When casino owner Robert J. Wilke turns up dead, there's a host of suspects out there. Jane's diamond necklace also is missing which is seen quite reasonably as a motive as Price said it was in the hotel safe.

Things pretty much go as they normally do in these noir films, some good action sequences a nice car chase through an atomic bomb testing site in the end.

What sets The Las Vegas Story apart is the presence of that old music master Hoagy Carmichael. ANY film he either appears in and/or writes some songs for is a cut above average just for that. He and Russell end the film singing his Academy Award nominated song My Resistance Is Low.

So will your's be once exposed to the talents of Hoagy Carmichael.