Third Time Lucky (1949)

A compulsive gambler (Dermot Walsh) falls in love with a woman (Glynis Johns) and believes she brings him luck. Unfortunately, she also catches the eye of one of his gambling rivals (Charles Goldner). Based on the novel THEY CRACKED HER GLASS SLIPPER by Gerald Butler (who adapted his book for the screen) and directed by Gordon Parry (TWILIGHT WOMEN). I usually find movies about compulsive gamblers (like THE CINCINNATI KID) engaging but this entry is rather tiresome. Glynis Johns is always a welcome presence and she serves as a linchpin here which is good because there's nothing else to grab on to. In movies like this, we need to have some sort of connection to the gambler protagonist and Walsh gives us zilch. The film could have used a little more of the unsavory mise en scene of the world of underground gambling. With Sebastian Cabot, Michael Hordern, Helen Haye and Yvonne Owen.