The Big Gamble

1931
Passed
1h 5m

IMDb RATING

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William Boyd, Warner Oland, and Dorothy Sebastian in The Big Gamble (1931)

Unable to repay a substantial gambling debt to mob boss North, Alan Beckwith concocts a last-ditch scheme. Allowing North to take out a $100,000 insurance policy on his life, Alan agrees to ... Read allUnable to repay a substantial gambling debt to mob boss North, Alan Beckwith concocts a last-ditch scheme. Allowing North to take out a $100,000 insurance policy on his life, Alan agrees to commit suicide after the mandantory one-year moratorium has elapsed. To make things legal,... Read allUnable to repay a substantial gambling debt to mob boss North, Alan Beckwith concocts a last-ditch scheme. Allowing North to take out a $100,000 insurance policy on his life, Alan agrees to commit suicide after the mandantory one-year moratorium has elapsed. To make things legal, North forces Alan to marry Beverly (Whose brother is also indebted to North) as the benef... Read all

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IMDb RATING

5.8/10

216

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos8

Top cast21

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William Boyd

Alan Beckwith
(as Bill Boyd)

James Gleason

Squint Dugan

Warner Oland

Andrew North

Dorothy Sebastian

Beverly

Zasu Pitts

Nora Dugan

June MacCloy

William Collier Jr.

Johnnie Ames

Ralph Ince

Webb

Geneva Mitchell

Trixie

Monte Blue

Policeman
(uncredited)

Sidney Bracey

Wedding Witness
(uncredited)

Allan Cavan

Police Dispatcher
(uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

Red - Gangster Driver
(uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Restaurant Patron
(uncredited)

Joseph W. Girard

Poker Player
(uncredited)

Edward McWade

Justice of the Peace
(uncredited)

George Nardelli

Restaurant Patron
(uncredited)

Jack Richardson

Poker Player
(uncredited)

Director
- Fred Niblo
Writers
All cast & crew
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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
William Boyd and Dorothy Sebastian who play a married couple in this film, were married in real life at the time of this picture.

Quotes
Nora Dugan: I didn't mean to be protruding, but we've got to go.

Connections
Remake of Red Dice (1926)

User reviews9

Review

Featured review

7/10

Early talkie gangster film

The Big Gamble opens on New Year's eve, with a broke gambler trying to figure out how to work his way out of debt. Alan Beckwith (Bill Boyd) gets local thug Andrew North (Warner Oland) and Beverly Ames (Dorothy Sebastian) involved in a scheme to come up with money fast. Viewers will recognize Warner Oland as the lead in all the Charlie Chan movies in the 1930s. Also keep an eye out for James Gleason as Squint Dugan, small time crook. He will go on to play the ultimate slow-witted New York police lieutenant in just about every film made in the 1940s. Zasu Pitts plays Dugan's wife, maid to the Beckwiths. Sound and light quality are a little iffy, but that can be forgiven, since it was the early days of talkies. The dialogue is all a bit stilted and hesitating, apparently since everyone was new to the live sound track. Director Fred Niblo only made two more films after this one. Niblo had an interesting history; his brother- in- law was George M. Cohan, and Niblo was one of the founders of the Academy of Motion Pictures. Not the strongest script or acting, but its a fun, low-key film. Even a couple surprises.