White Lightning (1953 film)
Encyclopedia
White Lightning is a 1953 film directed by Edward Bernds
, starring Stanley Clements
, Barbara Bestar and Steve Brodie
. The film also features a young Lee Van Cleef
in an early role.
team called the Red Devils who are in the midst of a extended losing streak. The losing streak is due to the team's proprietor Jack Monohan (Steve Brodie) taking bribes from gamblers. The team receives fresh hope in the form of a new player, Mike Connors (Stanley Clements). Mike is an arrogant and self-assured man, who is also Jack's former childhood friend. His talent helps the team regain their formerly winning ways. However, the new star quickly becomes disliked for his egocentric attitude and playing style. Matters worsen when Jack's sister Margaret (Barbara Bestar) becomes attracted in Mike. This romantic interest leads to an out-and-out brawl between the two men. The fight is stopped after a local drifter named Brutus steps in but tragically is stabbed by Mike. The situation takes a turn for the worse when an angered Mike takes a bribe - to throw the extremely important final game - from a gambler named Rocky Gibraltar (Lyle Talbot
). Fortunately, during the game, Mike sees sense with the help of a young, admiring fan named Davey (Duncan Richardson). He helps win the game.
Edward Bernds
Edward Bernds was an American screenwriter and director, born in Chicago, Illinois.-Career:While in his junior year in Lake View High School, he and several friends formed a small radio clique and obtained amateur licenses...
, starring Stanley Clements
Stanley Clements
Stanley Clements was an American actor and comedian.Stanley Clements was born Stanislaw Klimowicz in Long Island, New York. Young Stan realized that he wanted a show-business career while he was in grammar school, and when he graduated from college he toured in vaudeville for two years...
, Barbara Bestar and Steve Brodie
Steve Brodie
Steve Brodie was an American from New York City who claimed to have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge and survived on July 23, 1886...
. The film also features a young Lee Van Cleef
Lee Van Cleef
Lee Van Cleef was an American film actor who appeared mostly in Western and action pictures. His sharp features and piercing eyes led to his being cast as a villain in scores of films such as High Noon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Good The Bad and the Ugly.-Early life:Van Cleef was...
in an early role.
Plot
The film centers around a professional ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team called the Red Devils who are in the midst of a extended losing streak. The losing streak is due to the team's proprietor Jack Monohan (Steve Brodie) taking bribes from gamblers. The team receives fresh hope in the form of a new player, Mike Connors (Stanley Clements). Mike is an arrogant and self-assured man, who is also Jack's former childhood friend. His talent helps the team regain their formerly winning ways. However, the new star quickly becomes disliked for his egocentric attitude and playing style. Matters worsen when Jack's sister Margaret (Barbara Bestar) becomes attracted in Mike. This romantic interest leads to an out-and-out brawl between the two men. The fight is stopped after a local drifter named Brutus steps in but tragically is stabbed by Mike. The situation takes a turn for the worse when an angered Mike takes a bribe - to throw the extremely important final game - from a gambler named Rocky Gibraltar (Lyle Talbot
Lyle Talbot
Lyle Talbot , born Lisle Henderson, was an American actor on stage and screen, best known for his long career in movies from 1931 to 1960 and for his frequent appearances on TV in the 1950s and '60s, including his decade-long role as Joe Randolph on television's The Adventures of Ozzie and...
). Fortunately, during the game, Mike sees sense with the help of a young, admiring fan named Davey (Duncan Richardson). He helps win the game.
Cast
- Stanley Clements as Mike Connors
- Barbara Bestar as Margaret Monohan
- Steve Brodie as Jack Monohan
- Gloria BlondellGloria BlondellGloria Blondell is the younger sister of Joan Blondell. She was an actress and voice actor between 1938 and 1962. In 1935 she appeared in the Broadway production of Three Men on a Horse at the Playhouse in New York City. She is probably best remembered for her role as Honeybee Gillis in the 1950s...
as Ann Garfield - Paul Bryar as Stew Barton
- Lyle TalbotLyle TalbotLyle Talbot , born Lisle Henderson, was an American actor on stage and screen, best known for his long career in movies from 1931 to 1960 and for his frequent appearances on TV in the 1950s and '60s, including his decade-long role as Joe Randolph on television's The Adventures of Ozzie and...
as Rocky Gibraltar - Frank JenksFrank JenksFrank Jenks acid-voiced supporting actor, began in vaudeville and went on to a long career in movies and television, mostly in comedy. He was one of the more familiar faces and voices of the Hollywood Studio era. For almost ten years beginning in the early 1920s, Jenks was a song and dance man...
as Benny Brown - Lee Van Cleef as Brutus Allen
- Myron HealeyMyron HealeyMyron Daniel Healey was an American actor. He began his Hollywood, California, career during the early 1940s in bit parts and minor supporting roles at various studios.-Early years:...
as Nelson - Riley Hill as Horwin
- Duncan Richardson as Davey
- Tom Hanlon as Announcer
- John Bleifer as Tailor
- Jane Easton as Girl
- Jon Andrew as Brutus the handicapped sailor