Hazard


1h 35m 1948

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Release Date
May 28, 1948
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Hazard by Roy Chanslor (New York, 1947).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 35m
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1

Synopsis

Ellen Crane, a compulsive gambler from Park Avenue, is badly in debt to Lonnie Burns, the owner of a nightclub. After he threatens to have her arrested for writing a bad check, Lonnie deals her one last card trick: if she wins, he will forgive her debt but if she loses, she must marry him. She loses, but escapes the nightclub and prepares to leave town. Burns hires private detective J. D. Storm to return Ellen to him, and J. D. follows her to Chicago, where she convinces a hotel bellhop named Joe to escort her to a gambling club. There she makes enough money to get to Los Angeles, and when she finds J. D. in her hotel room, she knocks him out and escapes. In Los Angeles, Ellen is befriended by an ex-convict named Beady, who suffers from agoraphobia as a result of a prison term. One night, Beady warns Ellen that J. D. has found her, and is arrested along with Ellen for shooting craps. Afraid Beady will have a nervous breakdown if he is forced to return to jail, Ellen offers to go peaceably with J. D. for twelve hours in exchange for her and Beady's bail. As Ellen and J. D. drive east in her new car, he begins to fall in love with her. She is determined to free herself, however, and has him arrested for abduction as soon as the twelve hours are up. J. D. retaliates by calling Burns and giving him their whereabouts. He later convinces the sheriff that he and Ellen are merely having a marital spat, and is released. As J. D. and Ellen camp, he asks her about Tom Priestley, her fiancé who died in the war, and learns that she blames her father, who forbade the marriage, for Tom's death. It is J. D.'s theory that Ellen gambles in an attempt to bankrupt her father, who has always supported her. The next morning, while attempting to escape, Ellen crashes her car, and it lights on fire. After J. D. saves her and lands in the hospital, Ellen realizes she loves him. Determined to rid herself of her compulsion to lose money, Ellen goes to Las Vegas. J. D., meanwhile, arranges for a justice of the peace to marry them upon her return. When she arrives at the hospital, having "cured" herself, she finds Burns waiting for her, and believes J. D. has double-crossed her. J. D., an ex-football player, successfully beats up Burns and his henchman, Oscar, however, and demands that Burns hand over Ellen's bad check. She then discovers that Burns used a loaded deck for their marriage bet. Leaving Burns and Oscar in a heap on the floor, J. D. carries Ellen out to get married.

Cast

Paulette Goddard

Ellen Crane

Macdonald Carey

J. D. Storm

Fred Clark

Lonnie Burns

Stanley Clements

Joe, bellhop

Percy Helton

Beady

Maxie Rosenbloom

Truck driver

Frank Fenton

Sheriff

Frank Faylen

Oscar

Mary Adams

Matron, sergeant

Walter Baldwin

Superintendent

Isabel Randolph

Woman in hotel

Taylor Holmes

Mr. Meeler

Charles Mcgraw

Chick

James Millican

Houseman

Jimmy Conlin

Mr. Tilson

Ann Doran

Nurse

Howard Mitchell

Poker player

Frank Henry

Poker player

Ralph Montgomery

Poker player

Dudley James

Poker player

Sam Ash

Poker player

John Shay

Clerk

William Hall

Doorman

George Carleton

Taxi starter

Bob Templeton

Taxicab driver

Ed Randolph

Taxicab driver

Ralf Harolde

Taxicab driver

Ralph Peters

Taxicab driver

Donald Kerr

Taxicab driver

William Meader

Taxicab driver

Hal Rand

Taxicab driver

Don Maccracken

Taxicab driver

Eric Alden

Taxicab driver

Richard Kipling

Croupier

Will Orlean

Dice dealer

Jerry James

Guard

Erville Alderson

Clerk in dingy hotel

Marlyn Gladstone

Woman in cheap hotel

Hank Worden

Man in cheap hotel

Ethyl May Halls

Blowzy woman in hotel

Lela Cannon

Woman in tank

Jane Crowley

Woman in tank

Crete Sipple

Woman in tank

Aline Goodwin

Woman in tank

Besse Wade

Woman in tank

Eleanore Vogel

Woman in tank

Gladys Blake

Drunk woman in tank

Anne O'neal

Hatchet-faced woman

Frances Morris

Woman in fur coat in tank

Greta Granstedt

Woman in evening gown in tank

Betty Danko

Matron

Babe London

Matron

Dick Keene

Skip

Bob Kortman

Bartender

Charles Mcavoy

L.A. policeman

Joe Mcturk

Bookie

Joey Ray

Bookie

Ray Teal

Plainclothesman

Jack Searl

Public defender

David Mcmahon

Bailiff

Harry Harvey

Judge

Harland Tucker

Court bail clerk

Ruth Clifford

Waitress

Charles B. Williams

Little man

Jimmie Dundee

Mike

Howard Negley

Chris

Phillip Barnes

Dealer

Charley Cooley

Wheel dealer

Henry Sylvester

Clerk

Earle Hodgins

Doctor

Len Hendry

Taxi dispatcher

George Douglas

Better

Benson Fong

Chinese house-boy

Renee Randall

Girl

Herbert Vigran

Dollie Caillet

Sam Bagley

Film Details

Genre
Comedy
Release Date
May 28, 1948
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Hazard by Roy Chanslor (New York, 1947).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 35m
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Actor James Millican's name appears in the opening cast credits of the viewed print, but is not included in the end credits.