You won't be disappointed!

Purely Joyful Movie!

A Disappointing Continuation

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

"Gambling on the High Seas" is a B movie remake of "Special Agent". "Special Agent" was an A picture. So what the difference between an A and a B? Back in the 1930s and 40s, movie theaters usually showed a double-feature--two full-length films. The shorter and usually much cheaper film was called the B-movie, the more prestigious, longer and bigger budgeted picture was an A. So, while the original clocks in at about 80 minutes, this remake is less than an hour in length. In addition, the actors are not quite the same level in quality and pay as the original...though for a B, "Gambling on the High Seas" is much better than average, with Wayne Morris and Jane Wyman starring in the flick.Morella (Gilbert Roland) operates an off-shore gambling ship. Because of its location, it is exempt from US law...and folks can gamble at will. However, Morella is a hood...and in addition to having fixed tables, he and his men have been responsible for several murders. Nice-guy reporter Jim Carter (Morris) pretends to be playing both sides in order to cozy up to Morella, but he plans on doing his best to get Morella in prison. How he does this and who helps him, you'll just have to see for yourself.The best things about this film is its brisk pace, dynamite action at the end of the movie, a decent plot and some very nice acting. My only complaint is that it's a remake...and the original was a bit better. Well worth seeing...and quite enjoyable.

"Gambling On The High Seas" is a painless programmer that's so short (barely 55 minutes) it was probably always destined to be part of a double feature. Jane Wyman, who is second-billed, has a secondary part and barely even appears in the first half; the lead (Wayne Morris) is also the blandest person in the film, and his character poses two different credibility problems: it's hard to believe that the police and the district attorney would send a newspaper reporter to do so much of their dirty work, just as it's hard to believe that a smart gambling racketeer (a well-cast Gilbert Roland) would trust a newspaper reporter with so many of his guilty secrets no matter how "neutral" the reporter seems to be. The film is mostly talk, but it does climax with a fair boat chase. ** out of 4.

Wayne Morris stars with Jane Wyman and Gilbert Roland in "Gambling on the High Seas," a 1940 second feature from Warner Brothers.Morris plays a reporter,Jim Carter and Roland is Morella, a crook who runs a gambling ship with rigged tables. The authorities haven't been able to get enough evidence to convict him. Carter approaches Morella's secretary, Laurie, who knows plenty. Carter wants proof of the fixed games and also evidence that Morella had his partner, Max Gates, murdered.Wayne Morris had all kinds of problems with Warner Brothers, and even lost out on the Burt Lancaster role in "The Killers" because Warners wouldn't lend him out. It's a shame - he was cute, had a nice, light presence, and was very boyish. He became well known for westerns until his untimely death. Wyman is blond, young, and beautiful, and does a good job as Laurie. Gilbert Roland is incredibly handsome as the cruel Morella and is also very good.Nice cast, very short film, decent story.

Jim Carver, ace reporter, announces his intention to go out and bring down the notorious gambler Morella. His boss tells him: "If you can, Jim, it'll be the greatest story the Journal ever had. But it'll be dangerous!"Subtle dialog is not among this picture's strengths, but a decent energy level and an interesting cast keep it entertaining.Gilbert Roland is quite smooth as Morella, the professional criminal who has set up an offshore gambling ship just outside the three-mile police enforcement limit. Everybody knows that Morella is a crook—and is behind at least one murder—but nobody can prove it.Wayne Morris is big and smiley as reporter Jim; although likable enough, Morris is so cheerful and spouts that good corny dialog with such eagerness that sometimes it's hard not to laugh. For example, when his girlfriend is kidnapped: "I got Laurie into this mess, and if I ever expect her to become Mrs. Jim Carver, I gotta get her out of it."Jane Wyman is Laurie, the spunky girlfriend who works right on board the gambling ship as Morella's secretary. Wyman hardly appears in the first half of the picture; it's no coincidence that the movie's second half, with Wyman as a major character, is faster moving and just generally much snappier.Plot and dialog so-so, cast giving it their best shot anyway….It's no classic but that Warner Bros. punch still makes for an entertaining enough 55 minutes. My favorite exchange— Morris: "You don't pay enough attention to me." Wyman: "What do you want for nothing?"