Inside Straight (film)

Inside Straight is a 1951 dramatic film. Though set in the Western United States in the late 19th century, it does not have the typical characteristics of a "Western" movie. It is about business people, involved in activities both honest and shady.

Inside Straight
Directed byGerald Mayer
StarringDavid Brian
Arlene Dahl
Mercedes McCambridge
Paula Raymond
Music byLennie Hayton
CinematographyRay June
Edited byNewell P. Kimlin
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
1952
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,723,000[1]
Box office$769,000[1]

Plot

In San Francisco in 1870, Ada Stritch owns a bank, but there's a run on it. She needs $3 million to keep it open. In desperation, she turns to Rip MacCool, a wealthy man she despises.

Also in need of Rip's help are newspaperman Johnny Sanderson and an old acquaintance, Flutey, each of whom, like Ada, has issues with Rip from their past. Rip offers to deal a hand of poker—if Ada wins, he will give her the $3 million. If not, he gets the bank.

Everyone recalls how they first met. Fifteen years before, Ada, a widow, has a small hotel that she'd like to sell. Rip and his pal Shocker are guests there. Rip woos her romantically, then offers $3,000 cash plus shares in the "Mona Lisa" gold mine. Ada accepts, only to learn later that the stock is worthless.

Johnny was a prizefighter. After a defeat, Rip helps him find a job. Rip is broke, but suddenly discovers that a vein of gold struck at the Mona Lisa mine has made his stock worth $250,000.

A beautiful singer, Lily Douvane, is loved by Johnny, but is seduced by Rip's money and weds him instead. Johnny is heartbroken. They have a baby boy and named it after Johnny. It's a loveless marriage, and when Lily catches Rip in a compromising position, she demands a divorce, $1 million from Rip, and custody of their child.

Johnny cares about the baby and for Zoe, the nanny. Rip interferes again, proposing to Zoe, then angering her as well as losing his fortune. Zoe mortgages their home. She also is pregnant. Rip regains his money, thanks again to the Mona Lisa mine, but loses both Zoe and his new baby in childbirth.

Shocker explains to those present how Rip became the cold-hearted man he is. At 16, unable to pay for his own parents' funeral, he worked beside Shocker in a mine. Money came to mean everything to him. After hearing this, Ada agrees to the winner-take-all hand of cards. Rip gracefully loses, and the bank is hers, but all suspect that Rip, having a heart after all, held the winning hand.

Cast

Reception

The film was a major financial disaster. According to MGM records, the movie earned $552,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $217,000 in other markets, causing a loss to the studio of $1,282,000.[1]

References
  1. The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
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