Directed by Robert Stevenson
Produced by Robert Sparks
Executive Producer: Samuel Bischoff
Screen Play by Earl Felton & Harry Essex (& Paul Jarrico)
Based on a story by Jay Dratler
Director Of Photography: Harry J. Wild, ASC
Film Editors: George Shrader & Frederic Knudtson
Music by Leigh Harline
Cast: Jane Russell (Linda Rollins), Victor Mature (Dave Andrews), Vincent Price (Lloyd Rollins), Hoagy Carmichael (Happy), Brad Dexter (Tom Hubler), Gordon Oliver (Mr. Drucker), Jay C. Flippen (Captain Harris), Will Wright (Mike Fogarty), Bill Welsh (Mr. Martin), Ray Montgomery (Desk Clerk), Colleen Miller (Mary), Robert Wilke (Clayton), Paul Frees (DA)
Miss Jennifer and I marked the anniversary of our Las Vegas nuptials by taking a look at the Warner Archive DVD of The Las Vegas Story (1952). I’m a sucker for movies shot in Las Vegas, from this one to Ocean’s 11 (1960) to The Gauntlet (1977).
The picture was originally going to be The Miami Story starring Robert Ryan. Moving the locale to Las Vegas and incorporating the casino/gambling backdrop must’ve required a huge amount of work (0r re-work) — but that kind of tampering was a fairly common occurrence at Howard Hughes’ RKO. Of course, by the time shooting started in Vegas, Ryan was out and Victor Mature and Jane Russell were in.
The Las Vegas Story was shot in the Spring of 1951, with plenty of location work around Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, Union Station, McCarran Field, the Naval Air base and the desert outside town. The Flamingo Hotel (where Jennifer and I stayed when we got hitched) doubles as The Fabulous here, where much of the action takes place. (The Flamingo’s full name back then was The Fabulous Flamingo.) Of course, they find a way to get Jane Russell in a bathing suit by the Flamingo pool.
Linda Rollins (Jane Russell) and her husband Lloyd (Vincent Price) get off the train in Las Vegas, a town where she once lived.
A few things quickly become obvious: Lloyd is in financial trouble, an insurance agent (Brad Dexter) is keeping an eye on Linda’s Cartier necklace, and Linda has a real history in Vegas — much of it centered around her old flame Dave Andrews (Victor Mature), who’s now a cop. You also wonder why in the world Price and Russell are married in the first place (something Price had trouble with during shooting).
Lloyd thinks he’s gonna get himself out of hot water at the dice table, and Linda’s necklace is quickly hocked to Clayton (Robert J. Wilke), owner of the casino where Linda once sang (accompanied by Hoagy Carmichael).
The next morning, Price is still broke, Wilke is dead and Russell’s diamond necklace is gone.
As things play out, there are a few songs, some terrific locations (Mature’s apartment is awesome), Jane Russell in an ultra-swank shower and a terrific supporting cast: Jay C. Flippen, Will Wright, Milton Kibbee, Paul Frees and Colleen Miller in her first film.
It’s all capped off with a crazy chase involving a helicopter and a 1941 Ford De Luxe station wagon (with the wood on the side). There’ve been several such sequences over the years (Shaft’s Big Score!, for instance), but this one was the first — and it must’ve been really something back in ’52. I’m sure Howard Hughes was really stoked about it.
RKO got maximum publicity out of the $150,000 Cartier diamond necklace. According to RKO’s PR folks, it had 500 diamonds, weighed 200 carats and cost the studio $100 a day to insure. It was watched over by Sheriff Glen Jones.
The world premier of The Las Vegas Story was held at the Fremont Theater (on Fremont, naturally). Almost a decade later, Ocean’s 11 would have its premier in the same spot.
During Hollywood’s “Red Scare,” writer Paul Jarrico refused to testify before the HUAC (The House Un-American Activities Committee) gang, so Howard Hughes had Jarrico’s name dropped from the credits of The Las Vegas Story. Jarrico sued (a civil suit), but because of the morals clause in his contract, he lost. Jarrico eventually headed to Europe, and Hollywood started hiring blacklisted writers without giving them credit for their work.
The Las Vegas Story is a cool movie — a bit mystery, a bit noir. The Vegas locales are a treat — the city looks nothing like this now. It moves at a quick pace and looks terrific thanks to DP Harry J. Wild.
Warner Archive’s DVD looks good. Not great, but I had no complaints with it. It’s easy to recommend a movie like this, and I wish there were a hundred more just like it.
The Hannibal 8 