LADY LUCK

US, 1946, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Young, Barbara Hale, Frank Morgan, James Gleason, Don Rice, Harry Davenport, Lloyd Corrigan.
Directed by Edwin L. Marin.

Lady Luck is a pleasant comedy about gambling, mid-1940s style. It is a star vehicle for Robert Young and Barbara Hale with enjoyable support from Frank Morgan as a gambling grandfather. James Gleason, doing a familiar turn, leads the supporting cast.

It is a moral fable - but very much of its time in its presentation of gambling and attempts to try to wean somebody from the problem.

1.Enjoyable comedy? Romantic? Satiric? Gambling?

2.Black and white photography, the 19th century locations and sets, 20th century - New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas? Musical score?

3.The title and gambling - and focus on Mary and her relationship with Larry.

4.The prologue with Mary and her grandfather, the gambling and the Civil War, losing the plantation, losing all the skins? The Wall Street crash? Preparation for the story of Mary and Grandpa?

5.Mary, resistance to gambling, setting up the bookshop, Grandpa and his running away, help from Larry? Falling in love, the phone call, the marriage? Las Vegas, seeing Larry gambling, her turning against him, the set-up, her gambling, winning, getting the casino? Involved in the gambling, her partners, anger with Larry? The confrontation, Grandpa playing poker, losing, finding out the truth - the happy ending?

6.Larry as the bookshop, with Grandpa, arrested, wanting to give it up - marrying Mary, romantic? The wedding, helping somebody out, Mary's anger with him, his trying to resist her? Getting Grandpa's help? The return to Las Vegas, disappointment, giving her an ultimatum? The happy ending?

7.Grandpa, the long line of gamblers, in the bookstore, taking the money, paying his debts, setting up a booking shop? Helping out Mary, the poker-playing, losing to Sam?

8.Sam and the gang, gamblers, Las Vegas, their schemes, helping Mary win, trying to make her lose? Sam and the confrontation with Gramps - and bluffing him? The friends, the boys and their gambling?

9.The atmosphere of Las Vegas, the casinos, even the judge gambling?

10.A film of its period, the point about gambling, romance and reform?