Mister Cory 1957

Drama

Box Office

$4.5K

Runtime

89 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Blake Edwards

Made by

Universal International Pictures

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Mister Cory Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Mister Cory (1957). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Cory, a poor Chicago kid with a knack for gambling, takes a job as a busboy at a luxurious Wisconsin resort. He quickly takes a shine to Abby Vollard, a glamorous socialite Martha Hyer who is toying with the affections of her wealthy boyfriend Alex Wyncott. In a calculated ploy to get close, Cory sabotages her motorboat as a ruse to help, then dives in to rescue—only to discover Abby’s younger sister Jen Vollard on board, and Jen volunteers to assist his efforts.

Abby believes Cory is a guest at the resort and invites him on a trip to New York. When Cory tries to raise money at a poker game, a guest named Biloxi [Charles Bickford] cleans him out. Abby is offended when she learns Cory is only a busboy and distances herself, setting the stage for a more complicated romance and a sharper, more strategic game of hearts and money.

A year later, in Reno trying to change his luck, Cory crosses paths again with Biloxi, who is revealed to be a professional gambler unable to play due to an ulcer. Biloxi partners with Cory, making him his proxy at the table, and together they return to Chicago when gangster Ruby Matrobe [Russ Morgan] offers them a chance to run an illegal casino. Cory sends an invitation to the grand opening to Abby, then slips away with her after fixing it so her fiancé can gamble and win. The pair begin a secret affair, and Cory’s behavior grows cruel and calculating, especially after he proposes to Abby and is coldly turned down. Biloxi is disgusted with him and ends their partnership, and Alex, now losing heavily at the tables, becomes aware that Abby is carrying on with Cory and tips off the cops.

A raid on Ruby’s gambling house follows, and Cory tries to flee, but Alex shoots him in the arm. Ashamed of his actions, Cory declines to prosecute. He makes for the airport, where Jen unexpectedly appears and offers to come along, leaving the door open to a new, uncertain chapter for all involved.

Mister Cory Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Mister Cory (1957) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Cory starts as a busboy at a posh Wisconsin resort

A poor Chicago kid with a stubborn gambling streak lands a job as a busboy at a luxurious Wisconsin resort. He senses there's a chance to climb into a better life and begins formulating his plan. The gleaming resort world sets the stage for his ambitions to unfold.

Opening Wisconsin resort

Cory sabotages Abby's motorboat to get close

To get Abby Vollard's attention, he sabotages her motorboat as a ruse. When the engine fails, he dives in to help and unexpectedly encounters Abby's sister Jen on the boat. Jen volunteers to assist his effort to win Abby's affection.

early Abby's boat, at the resort

Abby invites Cory to New York after misreading his status

Abby mistakenly believes Cory is a resort guest and invites him on a trip to New York. There, he tries to raise money at a poker game, but Jeremiah Caldwell, a guest, cleans him out. The setback hardens Abby's impression of him.

shortly after invitation New York (poker venue)

Abby discovers Cory is only a busboy and ends it

Abby learns the truth about Cory's job and is offended, ending their budding romance. The glamorous dream with Abby dissolves as she walks away. Cory is left to confront the consequences of the ruse.

soon after Resort

One year later: Cory in Reno meets Biloxi

A year passes and Cory heads to Reno in search of better luck. He crosses paths with Jeremiah Caldwell once again, who is revealed to be Biloxi, a seasoned professional gambler. The reunion hints at a new, sharper future for Cory.

one year later Reno

Biloxi becomes Cory's proxy partner at the tables

An ulcer-stricken Biloxi cannot play, so he makes Cory his proxy at the gambling table. The partnership blends Cory's nerve with Biloxi's experience, forming a dangerous rhythm. They decide to return to Chicago to pursue a riskier scheme.

after forming partnership On the road to Chicago / Chicago

Plan to run an illegal casino with Ruby Matrobe

Back in Chicago, gangster Ruby Matrobe offers them a chance to run an illegal casino. They accept the offer and prepare for a grand opening. The project marks a turning point from casual play to high-stakes crime.

return to Chicago / planning Chicago

Grand opening invitation and a secret affair with Abby

Cory sends Abby an invitation to the grand opening, then slips away with her after arranging for her fiancé Alex to gamble and win. The pair begin a secret affair that tightens their grip over one another. Abby is pulled deeper into Cory's dangerous world.

grand opening night Chicago casino

Cory's ambition grows; the proposal backfires; Biloxi breaks away

Cory's rising ambition becomes cruel and calculating, culminating in a marriage proposal that Abby rejects. Biloxi is disgusted by Cory's transformation and ends their partnership. The trust between them dissolves as the scheme spirals.

after proposal Chicago

Alex uncovers the affair; cops raid the casino

Alex, now losing heavily at the tables, tips off the cops about Ruby's gambling house. A raid erupts at the casino, throwing the operation into chaos. Cory tries to flee, but the raid turns violent when Alex shoots him in the arm.

raid night Ruby's gambling house, Chicago

Cory refuses to prosecute and heads for the airport

Ashamed of his actions, Cory refuses to prosecute the casino raid's consequences. He makes his way toward the airport, seeking an exit from the life he's chosen. The future hangs in the balance as he plans an uncertain departure.

immediately after Airport

Jen reappears older and offers to come along

At the airport, Abby's sister Jen returns, now older and more striking. She unexpectedly appears and offers to come along with Cory, presenting a new, uncertain path forward. The film closes on this ambiguous invitation to an uncharted future.

end Airport

Mister Cory Characters

Explore all characters from Mister Cory (1957). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Cory (Tony Curtis)

A poor Chicago kid with a gambling itch who climbs into glamorous circles by leveraging charm and opportunism. He starts as a busboy at a posh Wisconsin resort and quietly schemes to win Abby’s heart and social standing. His trajectory becomes cruel and calculating as money takes precedence over ethics, and he ultimately declines to prosecute after being shot, before fleeing with Jen.

🎯 Ambitious 🎭 Manipulative 🎲 Risk-taker

Abby Vollard (Martha Hyer)

A glamorous socialite toying with the affections of a wealthy fiancé. She invites Cory to New York, but recoils when she learns he is only a busboy. Her loyalty wavers as she begins a covert affair with Cory while navigating the expectations of high society.

💃 Socialite 🎭 Glamorous 💘 Romantic

Jeremiah Des Plains 'Biloxi' Caldwell (Charles Bickford)

A professional gambler whose ulcer prevents him from playing, he becomes Cory’s partner and mentor at the table. Together they return to Chicago to run an illegal casino, though Biloxi grows disgusted with Cory’s ruthlessness and ultimately ends the partnership.

🎲 Gambler 🧠 Strategist 🏁 Professional

Alex Wyncott (William Reynolds)

Abby’s wealthy fiancé who loses heavily at the tables and becomes suspicious of Abby’s affair. He tips off the cops during the casino raid and shoots Cory in the arm when the situation spirals out of control.

💰 Wealthy 🎯 Competent 🛡️ Protective

Jen Vollard ( Kathryn Grant)

Abby’s kid sister who volunteers to help Cory win Abby’s heart. She reappears later, arriving at the airport with a renewed sense of possibility, and embodies a pivotal romantic turn as the story closes.

🎀 Sister 🤝 Catalyst 💖 Compassionate

Ruby Matrobe (Russ Morgan)

A gangster who offers the chance to run an illegal casino, setting the stage for a major confrontation with law enforcement. His operation becomes the target of Cory and Biloxi’s improvised partnership and the ensuing raid.

💼 Crime Boss 🗝️ Power 🧭 Opportunist

Lily (Joan Banks)

A member of the social circle surrounding the casino world; she moves through the story as part of the glamorous milieu that frames Cory’s ambitions.

🎭 Supporting 🧭 Socialite ✨ Elegant

Mrs. Vollard (Louise Lorimer)

Abby’s mother, a figure of high society whose presence underscores the social pressures and expectations pressing on Abby’s choices.

🎩 Matriarch 🏛️ Society 👗 Prestige

Mr. Vollard (Willis Bouchey)

Abby’s father, representing the business and social interests that shape the family’s world and the stakes of Abby’s romantic entanglements.

💼 Patriarch 🏛️ Status 🕴️ Authority

Mister Cory Settings

Learn where and when Mister Cory (1957) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

Chicago, Wisconsin resort, New York, Reno

The story moves through upscale Wisconsin resort life, the glitz of Chicago’s gambling scene, a glamorous New York invitation, and a return to Reno’s casinos. These settings juxtapose refined leisure with the dangers of underground gambling, highlighting class contrasts and the lure of wealth. The travel between resort retreats and casino floors emphasizes the film’s focus on risk, desire, and social maneuvering.

🗺️ Urban 🏖️ Luxury 🎭 High society

Mister Cory Themes

Discover the main themes in Mister Cory (1957). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💰

Greed

Greed drives Cory’s ascent from busboy to player in a world where money buys influence. His ambition blurs moral lines as he manipulates Abby and partners with Biloxi for financial gain. The pursuit of wealth repeatedly supersedes loyalty, culminating in a morally compromised escape.

💔

Love and Betrayal

Romantic entanglements propel the plot: Abby toys with Cory’s affections, while Cory’s devotion to money overshadows genuine feeling. The secret affair with Abby and the subsequent fallout expose the fragility of trust in a world built on deceit. Heartbreak becomes a tool as characters maneuver for advantage.

🃏

Gambling

Gambling acts as the central engine, moving the action from resort floors to illegal casinos and back to the streets of Chicago. The stakes rise as Cory and Biloxi push their luck, while law enforcement closes in. The thrill and danger of risk continually test loyalties and moral boundaries.

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Mister Cory Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Mister Cory (1957). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a world where the glitter of high society sits just a stone’s throw from the grit of the city’s underbelly, ambition has a price and every glittering invitation hides an unspoken wager. The story drifts between opulent resort lounges, the bustling streets of Chicago, and the sleek allure of New York, painting a portrait of an era where fortunes are made and lost on the turn of a card and the whisper of a promise. The atmosphere is thick with cigarette smoke, the clink of glasses, and the restless hum of those who dare to dream beyond their birthright.

Cory arrives in this arena as a restless youth from Chicago’s slums, whose talent for gambling is matched only by his appetite for opportunity. He takes a modest position as a busboy at a lavish Wisconsin resort, using the role as a stepping‑stone into a world of wealth and influence. Quick‑witted and unafraid to gamble on himself, he views each encounter as a chance to rise, navigating the fine line between charm and calculation.

Abby Vollard embodies the glamorous upper echelon that Cory covets—a socialite whose effortless elegance masks a desire for excitement beyond the confines of her privileged circle. Their chemistry sparks a complex dance of attraction and ambition, where personal longing collides with the strategic maneuvers required to ascend the social ladder. Watching from the periphery is Biloxi, an older, seasoned gambler whose experience offers a subtle counterpoint to Cory’s brash optimism, hinting at the deeper currents that run beneath the surface of the high‑stakes world.

Against this backdrop of glittering parties, whispered backroom deals, and relentless competition, the film explores the intoxicating pull of power, the perilous balance between love and ambition, and the ever‑present question of how far one will go when the odds are stacked in favor of desire.

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