THE GAMBLER FROM NATCHEZ

US, 1954, 88 minutes, Colour.
Dale Robertson, Debra Paget, Thomas Gomez, Kevin Mc Carthy.
Directed by Henry Levin.

A brief entertaining picture of life in New Orleans and in the gambling houses. Dale Robertson was a popular star of the early fifties as was Debra Paget. Henry Levin, director of many popular adventures and comedies, directed this film. A comparison could be made with the contemporary Tyrone Power vehicle The Mississippi Gambler. Entertaining and a version of American revenge theme. Novelist, Irving Wallace, co-authored the screenplay.

1. An entertaining, colourful historical adventure?

2. The revenge conventions of gambling on the Mississippi, the way of life in New Orleans, gentlemen gamblers, Creole heroine, society and plantations?

3. Colour photography, the atmosphere of New Orleans and the Mississippi River, the acts? The score?

4. The basic expectations of such a plot? Plausible for the plot purposes? Real, contrived? Entertaining?

5. Vance as hero? The aftermath of the war, his devotion to his father and his father's reputation as a gambler? The attraction towards Melanie? Strengths of character? Being seen immediately as a gambler but upright? The encounter with the plantation owner and the infatuation with his sister? The irony of the final confrontation between the two? His grief at his father's death? His reaction to the attempted murder and Melanie saving him? The encounter with the witnesses and the vengeful motivations, his tearing the card in pieces after each death? The bond with Melanie, the discovery of the truth, the confrontation with the plantation owner gambler in front of witnesses? The duel? What had he achieved after his vengeance? His decision to give the plantation back to the sister and leave her? His going back to Melanie and his life on the river? New Orleans gentleman?

6. Melanie as a vigorous attractive heroine, first seeing her singing and working, her work on the ship, relationship with her father? Saving the life of Vane*? Her attraction towards him, her sulking? The gifts of the dresses, her presence at the revenge, at the duel? The happy ending?

7. Melanie's father and his being saved financially by Vance's father, his continued help? The presentation of the police commissioner and his witnessing the final duel? The background of life on the river, New Orleans, the boats, the plantations?

8. The plantation owner as villain? Suave manner with Vance, relationship with his sister, getting his henchmen to attempt to kill Vance? The confrontation and the duel and his death? Sufficient for this kind of film?

9. The impact of the flight by night with Vance wounded and his being rescued? The various revenge set pieces? The final duel?

10. The revenge theme as a tradition in American films? Law and order, justice? The effect of revenge on a person? A satisfying resolution?

11. The basic short story form of the film, a piece of Americana and a glimpse at aspects of American history, their influence on contemporary America? The attraction and audience interest for historical romance?