A Russian waiter in New York City becomes a national celebrity after he develops a "system" for winning at contract bridge.
Acting
Paul Lukas sells absurdity with aristocratic deadpan.
Direction
Dieterle keeps pre-Code energy snappy and visually inventive.
Director
William Dieterle
Paul Lukas
Peter Stanislavsky
Loretta Young
Marcia Stanislavsky
Frank McHugh
Philip 'Speed' McCann
Glenda Farrell
Blondie
Helen Vinson
Lola Starr
Bess Flowers
Bridge Party Guest
Roscoe Karns
Contest Radio Announcer
Ferdinand Gottschalk
Cedric Van Dorn
Mary Doran
Dot (uncredited)
Tom Dugan
Harry (uncredited)
Theresa Harris
Ladies' Room Attendant (uncredited)
John Hyams
Bridge Match Observer (uncredited)
Charles Lane
Waiter at Nicolai Restaurant
Sam McDaniel
Man Listening To Radio Broadcast
Paul Hurst
Man Who Speaks Final Line of the Film
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Contract bridge was genuine national mania in 1930s America—newspapers ran daily columns, and champion players were household names. The film satirizes how quickly expertise could be manufactured.
Paul Lukas would later win an Oscar for 'Watch on the Rhine' (1943), making this early comedy a fascinating glimpse at his lighter side before serious stardom.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
