The Las Vegas Story (film)
| The Las Vegas Story | |
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 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Robert Stevenson |
| Produced by | Robert Sparks Howard Hughes |
| Written by | Screenplay: Paul Jarrico Earl Felton Harry Essex Story: Jay Dratler |
| Starring | Jane Russell Victor Mature Vincent Price Hoagy Carmichael |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
| Cinematography | Harry J. Wild |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 30, 1952 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Las Vegas Story (1952), a suspense noir film, involves an ex-lounge singer (Jane Russell) revisiting Las Vegas with her shady husband (Vincent Price), where she encounters a cop (Victor Mature) with whom she'd had an affair years before, and who comes in handy during the subsequent fast-paced mayhem. Hoagy Carmichael portrays Happy, the eccentric pianist at the bar where the singer used to work.The movie was directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Robert Sparks and Howard Hughes with Samuel Bischoff as the executive producer.[1] The screenplay was by Paul Jarrico, Earl Felton, and Harry Essex from a story by Jay Dratler. The music score was by Leigh Harline and the cinematography by Harry J. Wild.
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[edit] Cast
- Jane Russell as Linda Rollins
- Victor Mature as Dave Andrews
- Vincent Price as Lloyd Rollins
- Hoagy Carmichael as Happy
- Brad Dexter as Tom Hubler
- Gordon Oliver as Mr. Drucker
- Jay C. Flippen as Capt. H.A. Harris
- Will Wright as Mike Fogarty
- Bill Welsh as Mr. Martin
- Ray Montgomery as Desk Clerk
- Colleen Miller as Mary
- Robert J. Wilke as Clayton
[edit] Critical reception
Bosley Crowther, the film critic for The New York Times gave the film a mixed review, writing, "The Las Vegas Story at the Paramount is one of those jukebox gambling films that gives the impression of being made up as it goes along...For the simple fact is that Miss Russell is slightly grotesque to look upon in the tacky costumes and pinched-in get-ups with which she is cheaply adorned, and for the rest she contributes to the drama nothing more than a petulant pout and a twangy whine. But, then, the scriptwriters, Earl Felton and Harry Essex, have not made demands in their loose-jointed, tabloid-tinted fiction for more than the lady gives. And the rest of the cast does not embarrass her by playing above her head. The best to be said on behalf of this hit-or-miss R. K. O. film is that, in throwing side glances at the sap-traps of Las Vegas, it points its own indeterminate moral: patrons proceed at their own risk; the odds are in favor of the house."[2]
In their film review, Time Out magazine discussed the background of the studio that produced the film, writing, "A minor RKO gem showing all the preferences of its then owner Howard Hughes (aeroplanes, brunettes, breasts and disenchanted heroes)...It all finishes with a perfunctory nod toward family values (by marrying off an irrelevant young couple), but the film wears its intentions on its sleeve with the final shot: Hoagy looks first at the seductive Russell, then winks at us as he sings, 'My resistance is low...'"[3]
Film critic Dennis Schwartz liked the film and wrote, "Robert Stevenson (My Forbidden Past) walks out a winner in this pulpish crime drama that he directed with panache. It's mainly scripted by Paul Jarrico who received no screen credit because of his pro-communist sympathies that met with the disapproval of nutty right-wing RKO boss Howard Hughes, who decided to take on the powerful Screen Writers Guild. This prompted a civil suit by Jarrico, who later suffered from a blacklist by HUAC over his politics. Hughes lost $600,000 on this B-film gem, probably the best film he ever produced...The exciting climax has for the first time a car/helicopter chase sequence on film ... It ends with a playful Happy and a divorce-minded Linda working together again and singing a duette with lyrics such as "Keep your distance, my resistance is low," which might explain what this appealing oddball story was all about."[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Las Vegas Story at the Internet Movie Database/
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, January 31, 1952. Last accessed: November 27, 2009.
- ^ Time Out Film Guide, film review. Last accessed: November 27, 2009.
- ^ Schwartz, Dennis.. Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, June 23, 2006. Last accessed: November 27, 2009.
[edit] External links
- The Las Vegas Story at the Internet Movie Database
- The Las Vegas Story at AllRovi
- The Las Vegas Story at the TCM Movie Database
- The Las Vegas Story film trailer at You Tube
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