The read
It runs a compact 1h 19m.
Synopsis
Big Steve Halloway, gambler and proprietor of New York's Horseshoe Cabaret, is in desperate need of money. He arranges for his fellow bookies, especially Sorrowful Jones, to each pay him $1,000 for his racehorse, Dream Prince, to lose. With all bets being placed at the window, Sorrowful encounters a gambler, having lost $500, wanting to place his bet but unable to come up with $20. Instead, he places his little girl, Marthy Jane, as security, or in bookie's terms a "marker". "Marky", as she comes to be known, winds up under the care of Sorrowful Jones and his lady friend, singer Bangles Carson.
Ratings
IMDb6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes89%
Metacritic68/100
26 audience votes
Key crew
- Alexander HallDirector
- William R. LipmanScreenplay
- Sam HellmanScreenplay
- Gladys LehmanScreenplay
Cast
- Shirley TempleMarthy Jane aka 'Marky'
- Adolphe MenjouSorrowful Jones
- Charles BickfordBig Steve Halloway
- Dorothy DellBangles Carson
- Warren HymerSore Toe
- Lynne OvermanRegret
- Sam HardyBennie the Gouge
- John KellyCanvas Back
- Frank McGlynn Sr.Doc Chesley
- John SheehanSun Rise
- Frank ConroyDr. Ingalls
- Ernie AdamsBettor (uncredited)
Stills
Themes
prayermotherly lovelittle girlorphanbookiemother figurebedtime storyfather figurebettinggambling racketabandoned childcollateral