The Big Gamble
Cast & Crew
Richard Fleischer
Stephen Boyd
Juliette Gréco
David Wayne
Gregory Ratoff
Sybil Thorndike
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Irish seaman Vic Brennan persuades his Dublin family to finance a truck-hauling business in the remote African town of Jebanda. The only stipulation is that his cousin Samuel, a timid bank clerk, accompany Vic and his Corsican bride, Marie, to Africa and protect the family fortune. When the trio arrive at a small settlement on the Ivory Coast, Samuel loses their customs papers, and their truck is impounded. Fortunately, Marie meets an old friend, a French naval lieutenant; and despite Vic's jealous nature, she uses her wiles to get the truck released from custody. Before they leave, Vic buys 300 cases of beer, certain he can double his money once they reach Jebanda. After a short time on the road, the truck crashes against a fallen tree. Vic, however, resourcefully rounds up some natives to remove the tree in return for a few cases of beer. Further on, they encounter a gruff German, Hans Kaltenberg, who offers to be their guide and then tries to steal their cargo; but Vic overpowers him and drives him off. The blazing African sun eventually proves too much for Samuel, and he comes down with a fever. As Marie cares for him, he deliriously declares his love for her. By the time his fever has abated, the truck has reached a raging river. While crossing, Vic is knocked unconscious by a log and sent reeling downstream. Samuel suddenly finds the courage and strength to drag his cousin ashore. As they start down a steep hillside, the brakes of the truck give way, and it crashes between two trees and turns over; but the trio discover that Jebanda is just ahead.
Director
Richard Fleischer
Cast
Stephen Boyd
Juliette Gréco
David Wayne
Gregory Ratoff
Sybil Thorndike
Fernand Ledoux
Marie Kean
Harold Goldblatt
Maureen O'dea
J. G. Devlin
Philip O'flynn
Fergal Stanley
Jess Hahn
Alain Saury
Jacques Marin
Members Of The Abbey Theatre Company
Ulster Theatre
Comédie-française
Crew
Leon Birnbaum
Jo De Bretagne
Julien Derode
Roger Dwyre
Jean D' Eaubonne
Bernard Farrel
Christian Ferry
Paul Feyder
Maurice Jarre
Lax
Lucie Lichtig
William C. Mellor
Henri Persin
Irwin Shaw
Elmo Williams
Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl F. Zanuck
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Stephen Boyd nearly drowned while shooting this film. He was saved by co-star 'David Wayne' (according to Stephen Boyd in a 1959 or 1960 appearance on "What's My Line").
Notes
Location scenes filmed on the Gold Coast, Africa; in Dublin, Ireland; and in southern France.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Summer September 1, 1961
CinemaScope
Released in United States Summer September 1, 1961
