Wine, Women and Horses 1937

In this layered tale of luck, loyalty, and longing, Jim Turner, a compulsive gambler, is pulled back from the brink when his gal pal Valerie buys him a meal after he hits rock bottom. A stop in a small Midwest town leads Jim to a quick win against George Mayhew in a horseshoes game, but he returns the money when he learns George can’t afford to lose it. He then rents a room at the Mayhews’ boarding house and grows close to Marjorie Mayhew; her warmth and resolve offer Jim a glimpse of a steadier life, and she leaves her former beau to marry him.

With a promise to reform, Jim lands a job as a night manager at a Chicago hotel. On Christmas morning, his gambling nose pays off again, and he wins $3,000, drawing the attention of the hotel guest who sees more than luck in him and offers a chance to work with his California racehorses. Mr. Bright offers Jim a path forward, and Jim accepts, as he and Marjorie head west to pursue a genuine fresh start.

At the track, the old thrill tugs at him even as he tries to stay true to his vow. He runs into Valerie again and meets her escort, Broadway Willis. A night out with them yields a staggering win of $20,000, testing Marjorie’s trust and leaving her a note saying she cannot live with his gambling life and is returning to Pres.

Back home, the pain lands hard: George reveals that Jim and Marjorie have suffered the loss of their baby boy. The tragedy hardens Jim’s resolve to change. He commits to quitting gambling and finding steady work, taking a job at a cigar store where he re-encounters George, now a professional gambler at the local track. George mentions that Bright’s prized mare, Lady Luck, is racing there, and Jim buys the horse when its leg is injured to save it from destruction. He rehabilitates Lady Luck, but the job and the life still pull at him.

The struggle between habit and hope proves persistent. Jim realizes his lifestyle won’t sustain a stable family, and Marjorie’s longing for security—something Pres could have offered—looms large. He makes the painful choice to leave, only to drift back toward gambling and eventually reunite with Valerie.