Gambling Ship

Gambling Ship

Year: 1933

Runtime: 72 mins

Language: English

Directors: Louis J. Gasnier, Max Marcin

Drama

Ace Corbin, exhausted by the deadly life of a gambling boss, fakes his retirement and boards a cross‑country train to assume a new identity. On the journey he falls for Eleanor, who conceals a scandalous past, while Ace hides his own criminal history. Former enemies and lingering obligations conspire to ruin their fresh start, but their love ultimately endures.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Gambling Ship (1933)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Gambling Ship (1933). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Southern California, Casino Del Mar steamship

Set along the Southern California coast, the story unfolds aboard the Casino Del Mar steamship, a floating gambling hall that operates just off the legal three-mile limit. The vessel serves as a microcosm of crime, ambition, and romance, where patrons are carried by water taxis to gamble on board. The setting emphasizes sun-drenched beaches, ocean breeze, and the tense, enclosed space of a moving casino ship.

🏖️ Coastal 🚢 Steamship

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:05

Main Characters – Gambling Ship (1933)

Meet the key characters of Gambling Ship (1933), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ace Corbin (Cary Grant)

A charming Chicago gangster who is framed for murder, then attempts to reform and start anew in California while grappling with his desire for vengeance. He’s quick-witted, fearless, and willing to take risks to protect the woman he loves and his new business.

💼 Crime 💘 Romance 🕵️ Deception

Joe Burke (Arthur Vinton)

Owner of the Casino Del Mar who enlists Ace to help run the casino and stabilize his business. He becomes entangled in a dangerous love-triangle with Eleanor. His loyalty to the casino drives his decisions until tragedy strikes.

💰 Wealth 🎭 Drama ⚔️ Violence

Eleanor La Velle (Benita Hume)

A gambler’s girlfriend who falls for Ace but remains loyal to Joe. She discovers Ace’s true identity and struggles with conflicting loyalties while continuing to protect and support the casino.

💘 Romance 🕵️ Deception 💼 Gambling

Pete Manning (Jack La Rue)

A ruthless gangster who framed Ace and seeks to ruin Joe’s business. He uses thugs to pressure rivals and refuses to back down, driving much of the conflict until his downfall at sea.

💼 Crime ⚔️ Violence 🚬 Power

Blooey (Roscoe Karns)

Ace’s right-hand man, pragmatic and quick-thinking. He helps maneuver the casino operation, facilitates plans, and plays a key role in the escape when the ship faces danger.

🧭 Strategy 🤝 Loyalty 🌀 Chaos

Detective (Spencer Charters)

A detective figure who appears in the proceedings, representing the law’s involvement in the case and the pursuit of justice.

🕵️ Drama ⚖️ Investigation 🗝️ Law

Jeanne Sands (Glenda Farrell)

A supporting character whose presence adds to the ensemble around the Casino Del Mar’s social circle and the layered world of gambling.

🎭 Drama 🧩 Intrigue 💃 Glamour

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:05

Major Themes – Gambling Ship (1933)

Explore the central themes of Gambling Ship (1933), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Dual Identities

Ace Corbin hides a criminal past behind a charming facade, and Eleanor likewise conceals her ties to the gambling world. As loyalties shift, the pair’s true identities clash with their emerging romance, driving conflicts and deception. The aboard setting intensifies the reveal when Eleanor discovers Ace's real name and motives.

🤝 Loyalty & Romance

Two lovers, torn between duty and affection, navigate competing loyalties: Ace seeks vengeance against Manning, while Eleanor remains loyal to Joe’s casino and to Ace. Their relationships are tested by hidden pasts and dangerous alliances. The tension between love and loyalty drives key decisions and the final union.

⚖️ Vengeance and Consequences

Manning’s gang, the mob’s reach, and the law collide as Ace perceives threats against his interests. The plan to run the casino collides with violent attempts to ruin Joe, culminating in a deadly confrontation at sea. The ending ties vengeance to justice as the criminals face consequences and the lovers choose a new life together.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:05

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about criminals starting over like Gambling Ship

A tough criminal tries to escape their past for love and a new life.If you liked the story of Ace Corbin faking his death to escape crime in Gambling Ship, you'll enjoy these movies about gangsters seeking redemption. Discover similar dramas where love and a fresh start are threatened by past loyalties and vengeful rivals.

tenseriskyromanticdangerousvolatilehopefulmelodramatic

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a linear path: a criminal at the peak of their power becomes disillusioned and fakes their exit or goes into hiding. They meet someone who represents a better future, but their past catches up, forcing a final confrontation where they must definitively choose between their old life and the new one they've built.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core conflict between a dangerous past and a hopeful future. They feature tense, fast-paced plots driven by romantic motivation and the constant threat of exposure, culminating in a climactic showdown that tests the protagonist's resolve.

Romantic dramas with danger and secrets like Gambling Ship

Love blossoms under the shadow of imminent danger and criminal secrets.Fans of the risky romance between Ace and Eleanor in Gambling Ship will find more movies like it here. Explore tense love stories where characters with scandalous pasts find each other, and their relationship is tested by criminal rivalries and the constant fear of being discovered.

romantictensedangerousmelodramaticsecretivevolatilepassionate

Narrative Summary

The emotional journey centers on two flawed individuals finding solace in each other while navigating a perilous situation. Their love is a source of strength but also a vulnerability, as their secrets and the surrounding danger create sustained tension. The plot forces them to rely on each other to overcome the threats, solidifying their bond.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their potent mix of high romance scores and significant tension. They deliver a specific experience where the audience is invested in both the survival and the relationship of the protagonists, set against a backdrop of organized crime, impersonation, or other dangerous worlds.

Unlock the Full Story of Gambling Ship

Don't stop at just watching — explore Gambling Ship in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Gambling Ship is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Gambling Ship Summary

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Gambling Ship Summary

Gambling Ship Timeline

Track the full timeline of Gambling Ship with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Gambling Ship Timeline

Gambling Ship Spoiler-Free Summary

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Gambling Ship Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Gambling Ship

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More About Gambling Ship

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