Flamingo Road (1949)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Robert Wilder (screenplay)
Edmund H. North (additional dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

6 May 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A wrong girl for the right side of the tracks.

Plot:

Carnival dancer Lane Bellamy finds herself stranded in a southern town ruled by corrupt political boss Titus Semple...

Plot Keywords:

Road House | Campaign | Southern | Carnival | Moral

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Lane Bellamy
Zachary Scott	...	Fielding Carlisle
Sydney Greenstreet	...	Sheriff Titus Semple
David Brian	...	Dan Reynolds
Gladys George	...	Lute Mae Sanders
Virginia Huston	...	Annabelle Weldon
Fred Clark	...	Doc Waterson
Gertrude Michael	...	Millie
Alice White	...	Gracie
Sam McDaniel	...	Boatright
Tito Vuolo	...	Pete Ladas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Iris Adrian	...	Blanche - Inmate of Women's Prison (uncredited)
William Bailey	...	Leo Mitchell (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake	...	Martin (uncredited)
M.A. Bogue	...	Johnny Simms (uncredited)
Carol Brewster	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Dancer - Opening Montage (uncredited)
Frank Cady	...	Tom Hill (uncredited)
Tristram Coffin	...	Ed Parker (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Extra at Lutie Mae's (uncredited)
Russ Conway	...	Johnson - Reporter (uncredited)
Dick Elliott	...	Tom Coyne (uncredited)
Morgan Farley	...	Link Niles (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Angry Carnival Creditor (uncredited)
John Gallaudet	...	John Shelton (uncredited)
Pat Gleason	...	Carnival Barker (uncredited)
Roy Gordon	...	Senator Flagstedt (uncredited)
William Haade	...	Burr Lassen (uncredited)
Jan Kayne	...	Sarah - Reynolds' Maid (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Douglas Kennedy	...	Voice of Police Radio Broadcaster (uncredited)
Lester Kimmel	...	Jamison - Dan's Lawyer (uncredited)
Sunny Knight	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Detective (uncredited)
John McGuire	...	Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Sammy McKim	...	Hotel Bellboy (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
Garry Owen	...	Mailman (uncredited)
Dale Robertson	...	Tunis Simms (uncredited)
Dick Ryan	...	Carnival Barker (uncredited)
Frank J. Scannell	...	Man (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Tom Stevenson	...	Maurice - Maitre d' at Ritz (uncredited)
Robert Strange	...	Peterson (uncredited)
Pierre Watkin	...	Senator on Power Commission (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Curtiz

Writing credits
Robert Wilder		(screenplay)
Edmund H. North		(additional dialogue)
Robert Wilder		(play "Flamingo Road") &
Sally Wilder		(play "Flamingo Road")

Produced by
George Amy	....	associate producer
Michael Curtiz	....	executive producer
Jerry Wald	....	producer

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Ted D. McCord		(director of photography) (as Ted McCord)

Film Editing by
Folmar Blangsted

Art Direction by
Leo K. Kuter

Set Decoration by
Howard Winterbottom

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist
Edwin Allen	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Betty Delmont	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Frank Mattison	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Curtiz	....	second unit director
Robert Vreeland	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert B. Lee	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
William Classen	....	grip (uncredited)
Ellsworth Fredericks	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Fred Morgan	....	still photographer (uncredited)
George Stout	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sheila O'Brien	....	gowns executer: Miss Crawford
Travilla	....	gowns designer: Miss Crawford
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
David Curtiz	....	montage

Music Department
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator
Ray Heindorf	....	musical director

Other crew
Norman Stuart	....	dialogue director
Howard Hohler	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Michael Curtiz Productions (for)
• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1950) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #13459)

Filming Locations:

Stage 28, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Michael Curtiz Productions

Trivia:

Originally intended as a vehicle for Ann Sheridan, who turned down role played by 'Joan Crawford'.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the end of the film a mob forms in front of Joan Crawford's home. The mob is not seen but you hear dozens of people outside making verbal threats. The next scene is her driving away. You would think there would have been a confrontation outside with the mob of people.

Quotes:

Lane Bellamy:I don't have to go like this, I've got better clothes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Mouth 2 (2013)

Soundtrack:

If I Could Be with You

Crawford jumps the tracks

Flamingo Road is not the best Joan Crawford film ever done. But it surely is one of the most entertaining with a few unforgettable characters in the film. No wonder it got picked to be the basis for a night time soap opera in the Eighties.

Sydney Greenstreet is one of those larger than life characters in every sense of the word. His southern county sheriff dominates this film. I would have to say it is my third favorite Greenstreet role, next to The Maltese Falcon and The Hucksters. Joan Crawford good as she is loses all the joint scenes when she's on the screen with Greenstreet.

Joan's a carnival girl stranded in Greenstreet's town and picked up by Greenstreet's deputy Zachary Scott. Greenstreet has big political plans for Scott which include a proper marriage with some modern version of Melanie Hamilton. Virginia Huston's the girl he has in mind.

After Crawford doesn't take Greenstreet's advice and leave town, he has her framed on a prostitution rap. After doing a six month stretch Crawford is understandably wanting vengeance. She takes a job at a road house run by Gladys George where a lot of the state bigwigs meet and enjoy all forms of pleasurable relaxation.

The characters in Flamingo Road jump right out at you, they really were made for a night time soap opera. Of course Crawford is great as she and new husband and ally David Brian gives her a new found respectability. The best portrayal in the film besides Crawford and Greenstreet goes to Gladys George. She's a southern version of the Texas Guinan like character she played in The Roaring Twenties.

If you like soap opera and revenge this is the film for you.