seymourblack-1 Although it's ostensibly a murder mystery, "The Las Vegas Story", with its romantic sub-plot, musical interludes and action-packed finale looks more like a movie that was conceived as a "piece of entertainment" with something for everyone. This impression is reinforced by its rather breezy atmosphere which, at times, seems at odds with what's happening on-screen. If it was indeed designed to appeal to a mass audience, it clearly failed because it didn't turn out to be a commercial success but the finished product is undeniably entertaining, primarily because of its all-star cast and Hoagy Carmichael's songs.Ex-nightclub singer Linda Rollins (Jane Russell) reluctantly returns to Las Vegas at the insistence of her wealthy husband Lloyd (Vincent Price). He wants to spend a few days at the desert resort and after seeing a telegram from his Boston business associate, Monte, Linda quickly realises that Lloyd is being pressed by the trustees of his company to return some money to the business and it looks as if he's planning to do so by winning big at one of the city's casinos. To this end, Lloyd gets Linda to flaunt her $150,000 necklace at "The Fabulous" casino but the manager is still only prepared to offer him $10,000 credit.Linda's discomfort at returning to her hometown is obvious and after Lloyd encourages her to go ahead and get her past out of her system, she visits "The Last Chance" where she used to work and reminisces briefly about singing with the establishment's pianist, Happy (Hoagy Carmichael) and regularly being watched by a soldier who always sat at the same table. Her romance with the soldier , Dave Andrews (Victor Mature) had ended when he was posted abroad. She's pleased when she meets Happy again and as they play one of their old numbers together, Dave, who's now a local police detective walks in and is less than happy to see the woman who he still carries a torch for but who had also ended their relationship so cruelly.After Lloyd uses up all his credit at "The Fabulous" and is asked to leave, he uses Linda's necklace as security to get further credit at "The Last Chance" with the agreement of its owner Mr Clayton (Robert J Wilke). Lloyd's further gambling sessions only lead to more losses and Clayton refusing to extend him any more credit. Things then get worse for Lloyd on the following day when Clayton's dead body is discovered and he becomes the prime suspect.Robert Stevenson's direction is notable for its intelligent use of locations in Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert and also for the skill with which the action sequences are staged. Some of the stunts involved are surprisingly good for a movie of this vintage. A scene in which a helicopter flies through a hangar and another in which Victor Mature is seen jumping to the ground from a great height are particularly impressive and well-shot.Stevenson also contributes to the movie's overall characteristic of exploiting Jane Russell's presence to the full by drawing attention to her looks and physique at every possible opportunity. Examples of this are when she's filmed taking a shower, when she stands in a swimsuit on a diving board (with the word "Fabulous" emblazoned on a sign close to her) and in the ways in which various other scenes are set up. An example of how the script is used for the same purpose arrives early in the action when Linda is recognised on arrival in Vegas by an old acquaintance. When he mentions that he never forgets a face, Lloyd responds by saying that the guy obviously has no eye for figure.Vincent Price always excelled in roles in which he acted as a rogue and his performance in this movie is no exception. Victor Mature and Jane Russell also do well and Hoagy Carmichael's contributions, both as an affable character and for the quality of a couple of his songs ("I Get Along Without You Very Well" and "My Resistance Is Low"), adds a great deal of enjoyment and charm to the whole proceedings.

MartinHafer "The Las Vegas Story" is an excellent and very stylish film. It begins with a couple, Linda and Lloyd Rollins, taking a detour from their trip west to stop in at Las Vegas. Linda has no interest in the place--especially since she has a lot of old unfinished business there. However, Lloyd insists and it soon appears as if the guy has some sort of gambling problem--though it's hard to pin down exactly what this shady guy is up to.While Lloyd is fixated on gambling, Linda gets a little bored. And, after encouragement from Lloyd, she decides to look up old friends at the place she used to work. The only friend missing at the joint is Lieutenant Andrews (Victor Mature) and you soon learn that he and Linda used to be an item.Eventually, you learn that Lloyd is in serious financial straights--so bad that he sold an extremely valuable necklace that belonged to Linda. When the man who bought it refuses to advance Lloyd any more cash, Lloyd threatens him. So, when the guy is found dead later, naturally the police assume it was Lloyd. And the Lieutenant takes pleasure in booking the husband. But is he the man or not? And, what of the still smoldering relationship between Andrews and Linda? As I said above, the film is quite stylish and is also a good mystery. I also really liked the scene where Andrews and the murderer have a showdown--it's a doozy. Overall, a very good film--sort of like the ones that Jane Russell also made with Robert Mitchum--full of chemistry and snappy dialog.

whpratt1 Jane Russell, (Linda Rollins),"Outlaw", was very pretty in 1952 and gave an outstanding performance as well as a singing act performed with Hoagy Carmichael (Happy) at the piano. Linda is married to a gambling con-artist named Lloyd Rollins, (Vincent Price) who is hitting rock bottom with large gambling debts and tries for a big break at the Casion's in Las Vegas. However, Victor Mature,(Lt. Dave Andrews) knows Las Vegas and the people behind the scenes who informed him that Lloyd Rollins was in town to start some trouble in the Casion's. Dave Andrews spots Linda Rollins and realizes she was a gal he was in love with and their relationship drifted a part, however, the spark was instantly rekindled when they meet face to face. Russell, Mature and Carmichael make this a very entertaining film with murder and plenty of old time tunes. Enjoy.

moviemorton Saw this movie om Jane Russell's 85th Birthday (Thanks TCM!) I was impressed by her great performance - I think the first I've seen in a dramatic role. Victor Mature was excellent, too, even if he was playing to type. Hoagy was good, also, but nothing can touch his performance in "Best Days of Our Lives." J.C. Flippen also good in what would become a stereotypical role providing comic relief but not a fop in the style of "Barnie Fife". Am curious about the scene shot in an abandoned Air Force base. Logic dictates this is Nellis AFB but I doubt it was abandoned in 1952. Does anybody know where this location shoot took place?