Jack Pot (1940)

In the throbbing heart of a bustling metropolis, we're introduced to James Hollister, the resolute Police Chief, via the MGM Crime Reporter. He paints a chilling picture of how seemingly innocuous crimes can clandestinely wreak havoc on society. The illicit world of slot machines, their metallic chimes echoing in smoky dens, is one such vice. They are the veins feeding the heart of the underworld, where each nickel clinking into the machine swells the coffers of the ruthless mob boss, Rocky Fallon. Disguising identities to shield the innocent, Hollister unravels the tale of Fallon, whose empire thrives on these machines, each coin inserted translating to thousands of dollars in ill-gotten profits daily. Such is the magnitude of this operation that his tendrils of corruption creep into the mayor's office, a mole undermining the promises of a mayor elected on the promise of battling crime. Fallon's illicit empire casts a long shadow, reaching even those who seem worlds away from these mechanized thieves. An unwitting victim, Frank Watson, the owner of a humble dry cleaning business, finds his life twisted and tarnished by Fallon's machinations. A poignant testament to the devastating ripple effects of crime, Watson's story is a reminder that Rocky Fallon's power, built on the steady stream of nickels from slot machines, reaches far beyond the smoky confines of his underworld.

Jack Pot is a crime movie featuring Tom Neal.

Jack Pot is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.