Product Details

• Actors: Shirley Jones, Joan Blondell
• Directors: Paul Bogart
• Format: NTSC
• Subtitles: English
• Rated: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Miracle Pictures
• VHS Release Date: February 2, 2002
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00062LN6M
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,085 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shirley Jones' performance distinquishes film., May 18, 2006

By 

Brent Carleton "Brent Carleton" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winner Take All [dvd] [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Perhaps even more than her in her Oscar winning performance for "Elmer Gantry," Shirley Jones here achieves distinction with her convincing delineation of a woman teetering on the brink of destroying her life through a gambling addiction.

What lends great conviction to the production is the absolutely normal personality Miss Jones projects as the protagonist. Gambling addicts are not wild eyed and sinister looking psychopaths, and it is therefore entirely appropriate that Miss Jones' character is an attractive, charming, and thoroughly upstanding seeming character. And therein lies the rub...all of which allows her to so convincingly "take in" so many others, not the least of which is her husband, (Laurence Luckinbill) from whom she has appropriated (and lost) $30,000. Most of all, she has deceived herself.

Even the cut rate conventions of TV movie production work to this movie's benefit. By shooting the movie mainly within the confines of actual suburban split level homes, hotel rooms, pawn shops, and gambling casinos, the production achieves an almost documentary veracity.

Also working much in its favor is a superb performance from Sam Groom as a sleazy back room spiv, as well as welcome cameos from screen greats Sylvia Sidney and Joan Blondell.

4.0 out of 5 stars Gambling Women, July 17, 2007

By 

Desiree "Desiree" (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winner Take All (1975) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was a made for tv movie back in the 70's and one of the first to deal with the topic of compulsive gambling. Back then it was widely believed that only men developed this addiction, so this movie was quite a breakthrough that portrayed a woman with this problem. Shirley Jones gives a wonderful performance as a happily married woman in love with her husband, enchanted with her stepdaughter, the portrait of a perfect wife and mother with a secret life. She handles the finances in the family and gambles away her husband's life savings. When he decides to use that money to buy a business, she is desperate to find a way to win it back before he discovers her secret and her life completely unravels. Lawrence Luckinbill plays her husband and Sylvia Sidney has a small supporting role as her not so understanding mother. Any woman who has ever grappled with this addiction will understand her motivations and feel her pain and panic. Much of the movie feels dated now, but the performances are first rate. And the topic is even more relevant now than it was back in 1975.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Anti-Gambling Movie!!!!!!!!!!!!, June 13, 2005

By 

viewer (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winner Take All [dvd] [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a great anti-gambling movie starring Shirley Jones.It's a must see!!!!!!!!!!!!!