Main Cast: James Stewart, Barbara Hale, Natalie Wood, Fred Clark, James Gleason, Patricia Medina, Alan Mowbray
Release Year: 1950
Country: US
Run Time: 87 minutes
Plot
The Jackpot is a generally pleasing satire of quiz programs. James Stewart stars as Bill Lawrence, an average Joe who picks up the phone one day, answers a simple question, and suddenly finds himself the recipient of a radio quiz-show jackpot. Tons of prizes are shipped to Lawrence's house, to the delight of his wife Amy (Barbara Hale) and his kids. Unfortunately, the Lawrences must now contend with the income tax folks, who levy huge tariffs on their "free" prizes. Complications begin piling up with dizzying rapidity, resulting in a night in the hoosegow for the befuddled Mr. Lawrence. Featured in The Jackpot as the Lawrence children are a couple of stars-in-the-making: Natalie Wood and Tommy Rettig. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Jackpot is a genial enough comedy, but not an especially distinguished one. Indeed, in some ways it feels like an episode from some long lost TV sitcom; indeed Jackpot would be a better piece of entertainment all around if its length were a bit closer to that of the average sitcom, as it tends to wear out its welcome at its current length. That's not because director Walter Lang doesn't do his best to keep things moving at a fast clip; the speed is there, but it's masking a repetitiveness in the story that inevitably catches up with it. Still, many viewers won't really care about this, for the individual episodes are often funny; even when they're not, they're amiable enough that many will just let them slide right by them. This good will on the part of the viewer is largely the result of Jackpot's cast, especially its invaluable star Jimmy Stewart. Few other performers could make as much of the role, but Stewart's contribution goes beyond his own role. His mere presence informs the film, making one glad to give it a few second chances, even when he's not around. He gets some excellent assistance from the likes of Barbara Hale, Fred Clark, Alan Mowbray and James Gleason, who all make valuable contributions. But it's Stewart who's the real reason for watching. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Tommy Rettig - Tommy Lawrence; Robert Gist - Pete Spooner; Lyle Talbot - Fred Burns; Charles Tannen - Al Vogel; Bigelow Sayre - Capt. Sullivan; Dick Cogan - Mr. Brown; Jewel Rose - Mrs. Brown; Eddie Firestone - Mr. MacDougall; Estelle Etterre - Mrs. McDougall; Claude Stroud - Herman Wertheim; Caryl Lincoln - Susan Wertheim; Joan Miller - Mabel Spooner; Walter S. Baldwin - Watch Buyer; Sid Saylor - Ernie the Mailman; John Qualen - Mr. Ferguson; Fritz Feld - Long-Haired Pianist; Kathrun Sheldon - Mrs. Simpkins; Robert Dudley - Mr. Simpkins; Billy Wayne - Photographer; Minerva Urecal - Strange Woman; Milton Parsons - Piano Player; Kim Spalding - Mr. Dexter; Dulce Daye - Mrs. Dexter; Andrew Tombes - Pritchett; Jay Barney - Detective; Robert Bice; John Bleifer - Bald Man; Harry Carter; Ken Christy - Man; Dick Curtis; Ann Doran - Miss Bowen; Sam Edwards - Parking Lot Attendant; Elizabeth Flournoy - Woman; Jerry Hausner - Al Stern; Harry Hines - Elevator Man; Marjorie Holliday; Billy Nelson - Truck Driver; Peggy O'Connor - Salesgirl; Tudor Owen; Franklin Parker - Poker Player; Jack Roper; John Roy - Policeman; Carol Savage - Telephone Operator; Philip Van Zandt - Flick Morgan; Colin Ward; Billy Lechner - Johnny the Office Boy; George Conrad - Parking Lot Attendant; Guy Way - Moving Man; Jack Mather - Detective
Bill Lawrence (James Stewart) is an overworked man with a wife and two teenage kids to look after. He wins a radio game show and finds himself with an enormous amount of prizes which range from useful to absurd. All is well until Lawrence finds he must sell the prizes in order to pay for taxes.
