Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

MartinHafer Tiny, ultra-low budget PRC made three Philo Vance movies in 1947. While "Philo Vance's Gamble" was the third one released, it was the second one they made....which must have confused a few folks since the final installment (which appeared second) starred a different actor. Now considering they were made by PRC, they aren't that bad...I certainly expected much worse!The story concerns a stolen emerald and folks who are associated with it suddenly dying. Vance is pulled into the story when the low-life trying to sell it tries to hire him and ultimately he's able to figure out who's killed who.While this film is very simple and far from great, it is mildly interesting and reasonably well written. For fans of B-mysteries, it's worth seeing. For everyone else, it's a time-passer at best.

bkoganbing Although this PRC film had its usual bottom of the barrel production values, Philo Vance Gambles might have been a much better film had it been done at a major studio like the previous Vance movies were. Alan Curtis is the urbane and dapper detective who resents false rumors going out about him.Dan Seymour plays one of his usual oily crooks, he's a jewel thief who has a valuable emerald and he's put out the rumor that Alan Curtis is on his payroll. Not a rumor that Curtis wants to have circulating especially after Seymour and his girlfriend Tala Birrell are bumped off.Given Vance's outstanding record of solving difficult cases the DA gives him a chance to be his own client. Do you doubt that Philo Vance will solve the murders which total three by the end of the film? Alan Curtis is hardly William Powell who is more my idea of what Philo Vance should be like. Still he does the job and sad it wasn't in a better produced film.

kevin olzak 1947's "Philo Vance's Gamble" came second in PRC's brief three picture series (shot Nov 1946), but was issued first (Apr 13 '47), again with Alan Curtis as Vance, and Frank Jenks as comic sidekick Ernie Clark, more helpful this time. Almost as good as "Philo Vance's Secret Mission," particularly in its well thought out solution, Vance calls upon smuggler Jeffrey Connor (Dan Seymour) to learn why Connor has been spreading the word that he's hired the great detective as a bodyguard. Right after Connor signs a check for 'pain and suffering,' he is shot dead by an unseen assailant, who swiftly kayos Vance while he's still on the floor. Just like the first feature, Vance must clear himself by solving the mystery, supported by a veteran cast that 'B' movie lovers will appreciate. Returning from "Secret Mission" are Tala Birell (criminally wasted here) and Toni Todd, while Vivian Austin would be back for the third entry, "Philo Vance Returns." Joseph Crehan plays the District Attorney, who actually mentions D. A. Markham, a fixture from all earlier Vance features. Other capable performers include Cliff Clark, James Burke, Gavin Gordon, Francis Pierlot, Grady Sutton, and especially Karolyn Grimes, coming off her iconic role as little Zuzu in "It's a Wonderful Life." William Wright would take over the title role in the PRC finale, "Philo Vance Returns," making one regret the absence of Alan Curtis, the only actor other than William Powell to play Philo Vance on screen more than once.

dpalmer-2 I thought Philo Vance's Gamble was a very solid effort, especially for a movie that is a long way down the list of Philo Vance films done. It was a solid mystery, with a little comic relief, good acting and a better than average cast.I have seen almost all of the Philo Vance films, and besides two or three of the early ones (Kennel Murder Case is a classic), this is one of the better films in the long running series.