The Jackpot (1950): Cast & Plot
The Jackpot is a 1950 comedy directed by Walter Lang, starring James Stewart as Bill Lawrence, Natalie Wood and Barbara Hale. It runs 1 hour 25 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 25m (85 min)
- Director
- Walter Lang
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Jackpot About?
The premise of The Jackpot without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A family man with a wife, two children, a home and a promising job sees his life turned upside‑down when he unexpectedly wins the $24,000 radio jackpot. Bill Lawrence receives a flood of prizes from the program, but the tax burden forces him to sell them, leading to comedic mishaps and moral dilemmas.
The Jackpot Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- male police officer
- police
- slimehouse
- quirky comedy
- washing machine
- taxes
- radio program
- pony
- radio
- mother son relationship
- mother daughter relationship
- husband wife relationship
+38 more Show fewer
- father son relationship
- father daughter relationship
- family relationships
- brother sister relationship
- united states of america
- truck driver
- telephone
- telephone operator
- telephone call
- small town
- slang
- salesman
- saleslady
- portrait painting
- portrait artist
- police officer
- poker player
- piano
- pianist
- photographer
- parking lot
- office boy
- newspaper story
- newspaper reporter
- new york city
- moving van
- mailman
- internal revenue service
- indiana
- gay decorator
- gambler
- frenchwoman
- french accent
- federal agent
- elevator
- elevator operator
- domestic strife
- cigarette smoking
The Jackpot Cast & Characters
James Stewart leads the cast as Bill Lawrence, with Natalie Wood as Phyllis Lawrence and Barbara Hale as Amy Lawrence. Directed by Walter Lang; 24 actors are credited in all.
- Director Walter Lang
-
James Stewart as Bill Lawrence -
Natalie Wood as Phyllis Lawrence - Barbara Hale as Amy Lawrence
- Tommy Rettig as Tommy Lawrence
Also Starring in The Jackpot
· 20 more- Patricia Medina Hilda Jones
- James Gleason Harry Summers
- Fred Clark Andrew Woodruff
- Lyle Talbot Fred Burns
- John Qualen Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
- Fritz Feld Pianist (uncredited)
- Minerva Urecal Woman Trying On Hats (uncredited)
- Alan Mowbray Leslie
- Dorothy Adams Saleslady (uncredited)
- Andrew Tombes Pritchett (uncredited)
- Harry Carter Card Player (uncredited)
- Walter Baldwin Watch Buyer (uncredited)
- Milton Parsons Piano Shopper (uncredited)
- Robert Dudley Simpkins (uncredited)
- Jerry Hausner Al Stern (uncredited)
- Harry Hines Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Robert Gist Pete Spooner
- Marjorie Holliday Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- Claude Stroud Herman Wertheim (uncredited)
- George Conrad Mike (uncredited)
More from Walter Lang
More films directed by Walter Lang, best-rated first: The King and I, Snow White and the Three Stooges, The Marriage-Go-Round and Can-Can.
The Jackpot Plot Summary
What happens in The Jackpot from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
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.
Full summary
The whole story of The Jackpot, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Jackpot?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the department‑store worker who wins the prize package?
The Jackpot Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “La fortuna si diverte” and “Gare au percepteur”.
- Also known as
-
- La fortuna si diverte
- Gare au percepteur
- Большой куш
- Cuidado con los inspectores
- Προσοχή, η Εφορία!
- Der geheimnisvolle Ehemann
- Radiomania
Seen The Jackpot?
Movies Like The Jackpot
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Jackpot, Jackpot! and Lottery Ticket.
The Jackpot FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Jackpot, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Jackpot?
The Jackpot runs 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes).
When was The Jackpot released?
The Jackpot was released on November 1, 1950.
Who directed The Jackpot?
The Jackpot was directed by Walter Lang.
More films by Walter Lang Who is in the cast of The Jackpot?
The Jackpot stars James Stewart as Bill Lawrence, Natalie Wood as Phyllis Lawrence and Barbara Hale as Amy Lawrence, among 24 credited actors.
Does The Jackpot have a post-credit scene?
No. The Jackpot has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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