THE GAMBLING TERROR (1937) Johnny Mack Brown, Iris Meredith & Charles King | Drama, Western | B&W

The Gambling Terror is a 1937 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Iris Meredith and Charles King.

SYNOPSIS
Brett runs a protection racket for an unknown boss. When Jeff Hayes arrives and opens a gambling den, they try to shut him down. Unlike the others who have given in, he plans to fight back.

A town is effectively terrorised by a protection racket with no one knowing who their leader is. Their only opposition is the editor of a local newspaper. When the editor's young son is caught listening to a pair to thugs victimising a farmer the thugs threaten to beat him to tell them what he heard. They are thwarted and beat up by Jeff Hayes, a gambler who is passing through town. When they threaten retribution to Jeff, he laughs in their face, telling them that anyone who'd horsewhip a child wouldn't be too much for a man to worry about.

The previous gambling in the town saloon was stopped by the protection racket when they wouldn't pay tribute. Jeff refuses to pay and gives the now frightened thugs a sample of his quick draw and expert marksmanship with his pair of six shooters. Jeff is cheered by the town, but despised because he is a gambler by the editor's daughter. The editor wants Jeff to join his vigilantes, but Jeff warns the editor that you don't fight bushwhackers by riding on the skyline.

CAST & CREW
Johnny Mack Brown as Jeff Hayes
Iris Meredith as Betty Garret
Charles King as Brett
Dick Curtis as Dirk - Brett's Henchman
Ted Adams as Sheriff
Horace Murphy as Missouri Bill, Printer's Devil
Earl Dwire as Homer Bradley
Frank Ball as Garret - Weekly Star Editor
Bobby Nelson as Jerry Garret
Lloyd Ingraham as Old Man
Emma Tansey as Old Woman
Budd Buster as Shorty

Directed by Sam Newfield
Written by George H. Plympton, Fred Myton
Produced by A.W. Hackel
Cinematography Bert Longenecker
Edited by S. Roy Luby
Production company Supreme Pictures
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date February 15, 1937
Running time 53 minutes
Country United States
Language English