The Las Vegas Story

The Las Vegas Story (1952) starring Victor Mature, Jane Russell, Vincent Price

In The Las Vegas Story, a casino owner’s been murdered, a diamond necklace is missing and a shady husband is suspected of the crimes. Then the police show up …

Synopsis of The Las Vegas Story

Investment broker Lloyd Rollins insists to his wife Linda that they stop at Las Vegas on their trip from Boston. There, he begins to gamble heavily. Linda visits the Last Chance, a casino where she used to sing. Where she meets police lieutenant Dave Andrews, a former flame from some years earlier. Insurance investigator Tom Hubler soon arrives to keep an eye on Linda’s valuable necklace for his company. He’s unaware that Rollins hocked the necklace with Clayton, owner of the Last Chance. Lt. Andrews, rebuffed by Linda, learns that Clayton has been murdered. He deduces the killer’s identity and begins a deadly chase when he learns the killer has taken Linda hostage and fled into the desert. …The Las Vegas Story

Editorial review of The Las Vegas Story

Jane Russell and Victor Mature play it as it lays in this hardboiled thriller costarring Vincent Price. Linda Rollins’ (Russell) luck has gone from bad to worse. A casino owner’s been bumped off, her diamond necklace is missing and her shady husband (Price) is suspected of the crimes. So when her bitter ex-flame, police lieutenant Dave Andrews (Mature), takes charge of the case, all bets are off when the killer kidnaps Linda and threatens to cash in all her chips.

Originally set in Miami, the movie’s locale was changed to Las Vegas when RKO studio chief Howard Hughes decided to publicize the city in which he’d recently taken a financial interest. Highlighted by one of the earliest helicopter/car chases ever filmed, The Las Vegas Story also features three songs by costar Hoagy Carmichael: “The Monkey Song,” “My Resistance Is Low” and “I Get Along Without You Very Well,” the latter two performed with Jane Russell.

Cast of characters

• Jane Russell (Son of Paleface, Double Dynamite) … Linda Rollins
• Victor Mature (The Big Circus, Demetrius and the Gladiators) … Lt. Dave Andrews
• Vincent Price (The Last Man on Earth, The House on Haunted Hill (1958)) … Lloyd Rollins
• Hoagy Carmichael (To Have and Have Not, Anything Goes) … Happy
• Brad Dexter (The Magnificent Seven) … Tom Hubler
• Gordon Oliver (West of Shanghai, Blondie!) … Mr. Drucker
• Jay C. Flippen (The Lemon Drop Kid) … Capt. H.A. Harris
• Will Wright (The Andy Griffith Show, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock) … Mike Fogarty
• Bill Welsh … Mr. Martin
• Ray Montgomery … Desk Clerk
• Colleen Miller … Mary
• Robert J. Wilke (High Noon) … Clayton

Songs

• I Get Along Without You Very Well
  • Music and Lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael
  • Performed by Jane Russell
• The Monkey Song
  • Music and Lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael
  • Performed by Hoagy Carmichael
• My Resistance Is Low
  • Music by Hoagy Carmichael
  • Lyrics by Harold Adamson
  • Performed by Hoagy Carmichael and Jane Russell