Lucky Jordan

Director: Frank Tuttle Frank Tuttle

Overview

Lucky Jordan (Alan Ladd) is a tough but good-natured New York racketeer who tries to finagle his way out of Army service. Despite his efforts, Jordan is drafted, but soon goes AWOL, with a lovely USO worker (Helen Walker) dogging his heels. She tries to arouse Jordan's patriotism, but he is unmoved until a gang of enemy spies beat up an old lady con artist (Mabel Paige) whom Lucky regards as a surrogate mother. Using his underhanded "street smarts," Jordan rounds up the spies and agrees to complete his military servitude. Lucky Jordan was one of several wartime films in which otherwise larcenous individuals are redeemed by channelling their talents for the good of Uncle Sam.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/23/2016
UPC:	0025192313523
Original Release:	1942
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:24:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alan Ladd	Lucky Jordan
Helen Walker	Jill Evans
Sheldon Leonard	Slip Moran
Mabel Paige	Annie
Marie McDonald	Pearl
Lloyd Corrigan	Ernest Higgins
Russell Hoyt	Eddie
Dave Willock	Angelo Palacio
Miles Mander	Kilpatrick
John Wengraf	Kesselman
Charles Cane	Sergeant
George Meader	Little Man
Virginia Brissac	Woman with Little Man
Al Hill	Killer
Fred Kohler Jr.	Killer
Jack Roberts	Johnny
Clem Bevans	Gas Station Attendant
Olaf Hytten	Charles, the Servant
William Halligan	Miller, the Gateman
Kitty Kelly	Mrs. Maggotti
George Humbert	Joe Maggotti
Dorothy Dandridge	Maid at Hollyhock School
Paul Phillips	Stick-Up Man,Girl
Joseph Downing	Stick-Up Man
Danny Duncan	Clerk in Cigar Store
Carol Hughes	Girl in Back Room,Girl in Back Room
Harry V. Cheshire	Garden Gatekeeper
Ralph Dunn	Army Guard
Lyle Latell	Army Guard
Ken Christy	Sergeant
Edward Earle	Man
Jack Baxley	Man
Edwin Miller	Officer
John Harmon	Mug with Big Ears
Edythe Elliott	Secretary
Jimmy O'Gatty	Mug
John Hamilton	Colonel
Roy Gordon	Colonel
Albert Ferris	Gardener
Crane Whitley	Gardener
Otto Reichow	Nazi Hood
Ralph Dumke	Sergeant
Kirk Alyn	Pearl's Boy Friend
Frederick Giermann	Bulky Gardener
Arthur Loft	Hearndon
Frank Benson	Cab Driver
Ronnie Rondell	Florist
Terrance Ray	Sentry
Elliott Sullivan	Soldier
Bud McTaggart	Soldier
Keith Richards	Soldier
Sara Berner	Helen
William Forrest	Commanding Officer
Paul Stanton	Draft Official
Virginia Farmer	Lady
Ethel Clayton	Woman
Georgia Backus	Saleslady in Toy Shop
Harold Minjir	Clerk in Flower Shop
Alice Kirby	Girl
Yvonne De Carlo	Girl
Harry Cheshire	Garden Gatekeeper
Ralph Peters	Brig Sergeant
Anthony Caruso	Gunman

Technical Credits

Frank Tuttle	Director
Fred Kohlmar	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Alan Ladd fans are in for a field day with Lucky Jordan, which shows the star off to very good advantage. The first film to give the then up-and-coming Ladd top billing, Lucky is an entertaining, sprightly little gangster comedy that perks along merrily, despite a third act detour into wartime propaganda that may strike modern viewers as a bit much. It's not really the in-your-face patriotism that may be problematic so much as it is the unrealistic about-face that it inspires in Ladd's character. Oh, we're expecting him to reform, all right; it's just that we want a smoother, more believable transformation. Still, this is a small price to pay for a flick that gives Ladd a chance to show his flair for comedy, and gives him some choice one-liners and rejoinders to do so. (Some of the lines make one wonder whether the censors were really paying attention, such as Ladd's refusing to go to his secretary's flat with the comment that "doesn't like crowds.") As the star's love interest, Helen Walker is energetic and spunky but not especially impressive; much better are Sheldon Leonard and Mabel Paige.