Third Time Lucky

This is one of those movies that begins after all the action has taken place, and then is told in flashback. Hard to believe this is the same Glynis Johns who played the mother in "Mary Poppins". Her character is an young woman who seldom takes chances, and as a result has thus far led a rather uneventful life. Who does she meet, but a gambler looking for a little stability and a good luck charm. Things escalate as the gambler gets in over his head and Johns' faith in him is tested. More than half a century has passed since this was made, so it may have seemed more original then. The lead character is someone we can really pull for. There's some amusing banter between Johns' character and her roommate (who seems to get out a lot more). Some of the gamblers are your standard-issue movie thugs, and like many of the movies of this era, the two leads seem to develop a bond a bit prematurely (reminds me of Mary Astor declaring her love for Humphrey Bogart after barely knowing him in "The Maltese Falcon"). Still, this is a good yarn about believing in someone, even if it means taking some major risks.