Why Wendell Corey?

I found it odd that Wendell Corey, an actor better suited for sleazy bad guys (as in DESERT FURY) or put-upon subordinates (I WALK ALONE), is the romantic lead here, playing Rip Darrow, a dashing gambler who stands up to both Stanwyck and Huston. He's not a terribly compelling or charismatic actor and his presence upsets the balance here. Since Hal Wallis produced this film, why didn't he use one of the stars then under contract to him, Burt Lancaster or Kirk Douglas? As it stands, there's no one to root for in this movie, but with Burt or Kirk on board, it wouldn't matter so much because we'd be engrossed from the start and we wouldn't spend a second worrying about why Stanwyck was so attracted to Mr. Darrow. To be fair, Corey's not bad in his co-starring gig with Stanwyck that same year, THE FILE ON THELMA JORDON, but the Everyman role he plays in it was much more suited to him. And Stanwyck is much less intense in that film.

Other actors under contract to Mr. Wallis that year included Charlton Heston and Dean Martin. Both of them, of course, would have needed more seasoning and experience before being placed onscreen in a precarious position between Stanwyck and Huston, but I have to confess that the thought of Martin in that role at that point in time really intrigues me. Oh, the possibilities...

14 years later, Stanwyck had a memorable pairing with another young star under contract to Wallis, Elvis Presley, in ROUSTABOUT. Easily one of Elvis' best acting jobs.