18. Mr. Lucky (1943) from Warner Archive Collection
Joe Adams (Cary Grant) is a gambler and a hustler. When he and his partner Zepp (Paul Stewart) receive draft notices to go to war, they develop a plan. Their friend Joe Bascopoulos has died and was deemed “unfit for duty.” Adams and Zepp decide to gamble for his identity and dodge the draft. Zepp cheats but still loses to Adams. In an ironic twist, Zepp was deemed unfit as well.
Now that both men are not going to war, they seek a way to steal money from a local War Relief organization to fund their gambling ship. Joe meets Captain Veronica Steadman (Gladys Cooper) and talks his way into run a “charity” as a casino. Not sold on Joe is socialite Dorthy Bryant (Laraine Day). Dorothy soon falls for Joe and his rhyming slang.
Mr. Lucky is a hidden gem of Cary Grant’s filmography. He plays both a charmer, which is no surprise. The surprise is he is also a bastard. Grant’s charm carries him past all of his shortcomings as a character, and toward the end of the film, you are rooting for him.
Laraine Day is up to the challenge of keeping up with Grant. Day goes toe to toe with Grant with his clever rhyming dialogue. Day is the heart of the film, and when Joe betrays her, your heart will break, too.
Not to be overlooked is H.C. Potter’s direction. He keeps the film moving at a brisk pace and lets his actors shine on the screen.
Funny, moving, and with infectious performances, Mr. Lucky is Grant at his best.
Grade: A
Mr. Lucky Video Quality
Of all the Grant films I own, Mr. Lucky is one I wanted to be given a new scan. The DVD suffered from scratches, dirt, and an overall rough look. Warner Archive to the rescue! A stunning new 4K scan breathes new life into this classic film.
Warner Archive was able to clean up most of the issues present in earlier releases. The foggy bits at the beginning still show signs of wear, but my guess is that these are the best elements of the film.
The blacks look great, the clothes now have noticeable stitches, and the clarity is near perfect.
Grade: A
Mr. Lucky Audio Quality
Like the video, the DTS-HD Master Audio has been upgraded nicely. No age-related issues are present. The dialogue is front and center and heard perfectly. The score is wonderful and at the proper level. This is a golden age classic given the respect it deserves.
Grade: A+
Mr. Lucky Bonus Features
Lux Radio Theater Broadcast: Grant and Day reprise their roles for a delightful radio play.
Screen Director’s Playhouse: Another radio show with H.C. Potter joining Grant.
Trailer
Grade: B
Mr. Lucky deserves to be on Blu-ray. It is a brilliant film with an out-of-character Cary Grant commanding the screen. Warner Archive has blessed us with a brand new 4K scan and some fun extras, continuing their winning streak of delivering the best Blu-rays from the Golden Age of Hollywood.