Dark Hazard (1934)

A compulsive gambler (Edward G. Robinson) falls in love with a nice girl (Genevieve Tobin) and resolves to give up gambling and become the kind of husband and family man that would make his wife happy. He tries but after they're married, the lure of gambling is too strong. Based on the novel by W.R. Burnett (LITTLE CAESAR) and directed by Alfred E. Green (THE JOLSON STORY). An unusual pre code film in that it acknowledges its protagonist's addiction while suggesting that maybe he's not the family man type and maybe he would be better off with his own kind. The film's title comes from the name of a black greyhound that the gambler becomes fond of while betting on dog racing. The movie subverts our expectations and instead of our "hero" giving up gambling and becoming a suburban husband and living happily ever after with his traditional wife, we get the happy ending but it's not the cliched one. With Glenda Farrell, Sidney Toler, George Meeker, Emma Dunn and War Cry in the role of Dark Hazard.