Jackpot is a 1960 British second feature crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Betty McDowall and Eddie Byrne. It was written by Tully and Maurice J. Wilson based on a story by John Sherman.
Contents
Plot
Ex-convict Carl Stock went to jail for his part in a robbery, and he now wants his share of the loot. His accomplice Sam Hare, now the owner of the Jackpot Club, won't cooperate. Stock persuades ex-safecracker Lenny Lane to help him steal the money from Hare's office. They do the job, but Stock kills a policeman. Superintendent Frawley of Scotland Yard investigates. When the police trap Stock and Hare at Arsenal Stadium, the two criminals fight each other and fall to their deaths.
Cast
William Hartnell as Superintendent Frawley
Betty McDowall as Kay Stock
Eddie Byrne as Sam Hare
George Mikell as Carl Stock
Michael Ripper as Lenny Lane
Victor Brooks as Sergeant Jacks
Tim Turner as Peter
Mike Sarne dancer in Lenny's snack bar
Sylvia Davies as Sally (waitress in Lenny's cafe)
Frank Forsyth as Desk Sergeant
Charles Lamb as snack bar customer (uncredited)
Stanley Meadows as police telephone wire tapper (uncredited)
Ivan Craig as Dinty
Frank Forsyth as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Garard Green as Detective Briggs (uncredited)
Brian Phelan as Taffy
Critical reception
Kine Weekly said: "The picture, slick crime fare, brings to fiction the realism and excitement of fact. William Hartnell looks and lives his part as the hawk-eyed Frawley, Betty McDowall wins sympathy as the frightened Kay, Eddie Byrne convinces as the double-crossing Sam, and George Mikell can’t be faulted as the vicious Carl. Its supporting players, too, register. There is no dallying at the start, sentiment neatly punctuates violence, and the Arsenal Stadium climax is both salutary and showmanlike."
Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Though very routine in conception and treatment, this little crime thriller is at any rate slickly done. Taut from the word go, the climax at Arsenal Stadium during a floodlit football match is also more resourceful than the average B-picture finale. William Hartnell is largely wasted in a somewhat inconspicuous part; but most of the supporting players register, particularly Victor Brooks as a Detective Sergeant on the case."