The Jackpot

Bill Lawrence, James Stewart, is a department-store worker in the Midwestern United States who supports his wife Amy Lawrence, Barbara Hale, and their young son Tommy Lawrence, Tommy Rettig, on a modest annual salary. When he answers a radio quiz and names the Mystery Husband, Harry James, he ends up winning an astonishing $24,000 in prizes, a dizzying mix of practical goods and extravagant goodies that flood his world—from a side of beef and 7,500 cans of soup to 1,000 fruit trees, a Palomino pony, a portable swimming pool, a diamond ring, a French maid, an interior decorator, and portrait painter Hilda Jones, Patricia Medina. The victory feels like a dream until reality intrudes: he must pay a $7,000 income tax on the winnings.

Desperate to cover the tax, Bill tries to liquidate the prizes at the store, only to be fired by his boss. He then travels to Chicago to fence the diamond ring, but the plan collapses and he is arrested. Meanwhile, suspicion grows at home that he is having an affair with Hilda Jones; the tension between Bill and his wife intensifies as the rumors swirl. A beacon of help arrives in the form of reporter Harry Summers, James Gleason, who had been covering Bill’s windfall. Harry confirms Bill’s identity with the police and drives him back to his house, offering steady, if uneasy, support.

Back at home, Bill discovers the place redecorated, a sign that the situation has shifted, and he begins to fear for his family’s stability. He packs his things and contemplates leaving, while Harry quietly arranges a safety net, giving him a place to sleep. The moment grows more complicated when Hilda drops off the portrait of Amy, claiming it was a surprise from Bill. A lawyer then arrives with a new development: $5,000 cash for the diamond ring on behalf of the man who had taken it before the arrest.

Mr. Woodruff, Fred Clark, arrives to rehire Bill as vice-president of the store, but a scuffle interrupts the moment and both men are knocked unconscious. In a twist of fate, Bill is rehired, and life seems to return to its usual rhythm. Yet the jokes linger in the air when the phones rings again—Harry has set up a second prize moment as a prank, and Bill answers with colorful language, clearly not seeking another windfall.

The film closes with a light touch as a cameo by bandleader Harry James appears as a radio announcer, underscoring the movie’s blend of warmth, humor, and small-town optimism.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:23