The Lady Gambles is a 1949 film noir directed by Michael Gordon and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Preston. The film follows the story of Joan Boothe, a housewife who accompanies her reporter husband David Boothe to Las Vegas. While David is busy working on a story, Joan starts to gamble to pass the time and ends up becoming addicted.
Joan's gambling addiction starts off innocently enough, but soon she finds herself risking more and more money. She is lured deeper into the world of gambling by casino manager Horace Corrigan, who encourages her to keep playing and even offers her a job as a hostess at the casino.
However, when Joan starts to borrow money from David's expense account and loses it all, their marriage starts to fall apart. David is initially supportive of Joan and tries to help her overcome her addiction. He takes her to Gamblers Anonymous meetings and even tries to get her a job as a secretary. But Joan's addiction is too strong, and she ends up stealing money from David and running away to Las Vegas once again.
In a heartbreaking scene, Joan's addiction reaches a climax as she sits alone at a roulette table, placing all of her remaining money on one final bet. As the ball lands on black, Joan collapses in despair.
In the end, David comes to Las Vegas to rescue Joan and help her get the treatment she needs for her addiction. The couple reconciles, and Joan is finally able to overcome her addiction and start fresh with David by her side.
The Lady Gambles is a powerful and gripping film that explores the dangers of gambling addiction and the toll it can take on one's personal and professional life. Stanwyck gives an outstanding performance as Joan, capturing the character's vulnerability and desperation with grace and skill. Overall, The Lady Gambles is a must-see for fans of classic film noir and a cautionary tale for anyone tempted by the lure of gambling.