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The Las Vegas Story (film)

The Las Vegas Story
Poster - Las Vegas Story, The 01.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Produced by Robert Sparks
Howard Hughes
Samuel Bischoff
Screenplay by Paul Jarrico
Earl Felton
Harry Essex
Story by Jay Dratler
Starring Jane Russell
Victor Mature
Vincent Price
Hoagy Carmichael
Music by Leigh Harline
Cinematography Harry J. Wild
Edited by Frederic Knudtson
George C. Shrader
Distributed by RKO Pictures
Release date
  • January 30, 1952 (1952-01-30) (United States)
Running time
88 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $1.2 million (US rentals)

The Las Vegas Story is a 1952 suspense film noir starring Jane Russell and Victor Mature, directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Robert Sparks and Howard Hughes with Samuel Bischoff as the executive producer.

Happy (Hoagy Carmichael), as the piano player at the Last Chance casino in Las Vegas, wonders what split up Linda Rollins (Jane Russell) and Dave Andrews (Victor Mature). Dave went off to fight in the South Pacific, but when he returned, Linda was gone. Happy soon finds out.

Linda reluctantly returns to Las Vegas by train when her husband Lloyd (Vincent Price) insists on vacationing there. Fellow passenger Tom Hubler (Brad Dexter) hurriedly gets off as well when the Rollins do. Linda discovers that her husband is in some kind of financial trouble, possibly criminal as well, and suspects he is trying to raise money by gambling. The first night, Lloyd insists she wear her necklace, appraised at $150,000, when they go out. She encounters Dave, now a lieutenant with the Sheriff's Department, who is initially none too pleased to see her again.

The next day, Hubler tries to become friendly with Linda at the hotel pool, but she brushes him off. He later informs Lloyd that he has been assigned by his insurance company to watch him and the necklace.

Lloyd obtains $10,000 credit with Clayton, owner of the appropriately named Last Chance casino, by putting up Linda's necklace, but inevitably loses it all gambling. He tries to get Clayton to advance him more credit, but is turned down. Early the next morning, Clayton is found stabbed to death, and the necklace is missing.

Dave arrests Lloyd. Lloyd tries to get his wife to provide him an alibi, but as she was with Dave at his home at the time, she cannot lie for him.

Dave, however, figures out the real killer's identity when Hubler slips up and reveals the location of the stabbing. After the murderer left, Clayton managed to try to reach the telephone before dying. Dave phones Linda to warn her, but Hubler finds out and kidnaps Linda. With roadblocks set up on all major highways and a description of his rented car, he steals another car, killing the owner when he objects. Dave takes a helicopter and spots the speeding vehicle. He and the pilot manage to force Hubler to leave the car at an abandoned base. Hubler wounds the pilot and forces Dave to throw out his gun by threatening to kill Linda, but after a chase and a fight, Dave is able to retrieve a gun and shoot Hubler dead.


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