In a dark Chicago back alley, among a crowd of seedy characters, Joan Boothe (Barbara Stanwyck) tosses a pair of dice and wins a few dirty dollars. She rolls once more, and wins again - and again, and again, and again. Soon, the street thugs Joan runs with discover she's cheating, and decide to administer their own harsh form of justice. With her body beaten and spirit broken, Joan finds herself in the hospital, where her estranged husband (Robert Preston) struggles to come to grips with how Joan - once a sophisticated, vivacious, loving wife - spiraled into such a desperate state. Elegantly shot and intricately constructed, 'The Lady Gambles' is a shocking story of temptation, addiction, and betrayal - as thrilling to watch today as it was when it debuted more than 60 years ago.
Audio commentary with critic and film historian Pamela Hutchinson (2023)
Sucker Bait (1943, 39 mins): noir-influenced short film warning of the dangers of revealing military secrets, featuring 'The Lady Gambles' actor Stephen McNally
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