Dishonored Lady (1947)

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Edward Sheldon (play) and
Margaret Ayer Barnes (play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 May 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Unbridled passion . . . scandal . . . murder!

Plot:

Madeleine Damien is the fashion editor of a slick Manhattan magazine by day and a lively party girl by night...

Plot Keywords:

Magazine | Editor | Psychiatrist | Murder | Recluse

Cast

Hedy Lamarr	...	Madeleine Damien
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Dr. David S. Cousins
John Loder	...	Felix Courtland
William Lundigan	...	Jack Garet
Morris Carnovsky	...	Dr. Richard Caleb
Natalie Schafer	...	Ethel Royce
Paul Cavanagh	...	Victor Kranish
Douglass Dumbrille	...	District Attorney O'Brien (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Margaret Hamilton	...	Mrs. Geiger
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gino Corrado	...	Carl, Waiter (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Police Sgt. Patella (uncredited)
Raoul Freeman	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Curt Furburg	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Henry Hebert	...	Attorney's Assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas Joy	...	Mitchell (uncredited)
Reid Kilpatrick	...	AP News Broadcaster (uncredited)
Fred Kohler Jr.	...	First Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack	...	Judge (uncredited)
Jack Richardson	...	Passerby (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Jim - Doorman (uncredited)
Ransom M. Sherman	...	Mr. Shirley (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Kam Tong	...	Courtland's Houseboy (uncredited)
Archie Twitchell	...	Freddie Fancher (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Police Sgt. Bartlett (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe	...	Dr. E.G. Lutz (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Stevenson

Writing credits
Edward Sheldon		(play) and
Margaret Ayer Barnes		(play)
Edmund H. North		(screenplay)
André De Toth		uncredited and
Ben Hecht		uncredited

Produced by
Jack Chertok	....	producer
Hunt Stromberg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Carmen Dragon

Cinematography by
Lucien N. Andriot		(director of photography) (as Lucien Andriot)

Film Editing by
John M. Foley

Production Design by
Nicolai Remisoff

Art Direction by
Nicolai Remisoff

Costume Design by
Eloise Jensson		(gowns) (as Elois Jenssen)

Makeup Department
Ruth Pursley	....	hair stylist
Joseph Stinton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Daniel Keefe	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lester D. Guthrie	....	assistant director (as Lester Guthrie)

Art Department
Victor Green	....	assistant art director
Robert Priestley	....	interior decorator (as Robert Priestly)

Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound (as John Carter)
Joseph I. Kane	....	sound (as Joe Kane)

Editorial Department
James E. Newcom	....	supervising editor

Other crew
Francis Dawson	....	dialogue director
Guthrie McClintic	....	stage producer

Thanks
David O. Selznick	....	special thanks: arrangement for Stevenson

Production Companies

• Hunt Stromberg Productions (as Mars Film Corp.)

Distributors

• United Artists (1947) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astor Pictures Corporation (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled) (re-release)
• Hollywood Classics (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• BFS Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• SlingShot Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Ventura Distribution (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Hollywood's Best (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Hollywood's Best (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)

Also Known As:

"Sins of Madeleine" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #11928, Adult Audience) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Hunt Stromberg Productions

Trivia:

Most of the characters' names from the play were changed for the film version.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Towards the end of the film when Dr Cousins 'punches' Jack Garet, Garet flies backwards without contact.

Quotes:

Dr. David S. Cousins:Say, women are supposed to scream, are you afraid of mice?
Madeleine Damien:No but next time I'll scream.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dry Run (2010)

Promiscuity and She

Beautiful and suicidal Hedy Lamarr (as Madeleine Damien) takes her psychiatrist's advice, and moves from promiscuous Manhattan magazine editor to struggling Greenwich Village artist. She falls in love with building mate Dennis O'Keefe (as David S. Cousins), a scientist; and, the two plan to marry. But, when Mr. O'Keefe is called away on business, Ms. Lamarr gets snookered and lapses into her prior lifestyle. Although she comes to her senses in time to flee frisky John Loder (as Felix Courtland), her presence in his apartment makes Lamarr a murder suspect.

So, how does she explain all this to returning fiancé O'Keefe?

This deliciously ludicrous, dated melodrama is gamely performed by Lamarr, who really pulls it off, with determination and beauty. These types of pictures are always easier to watch with an extremely attractive woman at the helm; and, "Dishonored Lady" is tailor-made for a beautiful Hollywood actress. Interestingly, Mr. Loder was, at the time, Lamarr's real-life husband - though, not for long. None of the men seem entirely up for Lamarr, but chatty Margaret Hamilton (after "The Wizard of Oz") and catty Natalie Schafer (before "Gilligan's Island") offer helpful support.

****** Dishonored Lady (5/16/47) Robert Stevenson ~ Hedy Lamarr, Dennis O'Keefe, John Loder, William Lundigan