Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Bette Davis | ... | Mary | |
Humphrey Bogart | ... | David Graham | |
Lola Lane | ... | Gabby | |
Isabel Jewell | ... | Emmy Lou | |
Rosalind Marquis | ... | Florrie | |
Mayo Methot | ... | Estelle | |
Jane Bryan | ... | Betty | |
Allen Jenkins | ... | Louie | |
Eduardo Ciannelli | ... | Johnny Vanning | |
John Litel | ... | Gordon | |
Ben Welden | ... | Charlie | |
Damian O'Flynn | ... | Ralph Krawford | |
Henry O'Neill | ... | Sheldon | |
Raymond Hatton | ... | Lawyer | |
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Carlos San Martín | ... | Head Waiter |
In this roman-a-clef for the infamous Lucky Luciano Trial, Mary Dwight and four roommates work as hostesses at the Club Intime, a "clip joint" that offers gambling, liquor, and female companionship to the "big spender" clientèle. When ruthless thug and pimp Johnny Vanning takes over all the clubs in town, the girls are forced to follow Vanning's rules and kick back on their "tips" in exchange for protection. Although she is not a hardened old hand like Gabby and Estella, Mary knows enough to sidestep Vanning's amorous advances. Unfortunately the more naive Mary Lou is impressed by Vanning's oily veneer of materialism and accepts invitations to "entertain" at the gangster's private parties. Mary's naive younger sister Betty arrives from college just when Mary and her roommates are arrested as material witnesses in the murder of one of the casino's non-paying customers. Vanning's corrupt lawyer frees the others but pressures Mary to commit perjury in order to discredit crusading ... Written by duke1029
This is a star vehicle for Bette Davis. And she really gives a top performance as a professional hostess in a night club owned by a brutal mobster. The character she plays lives through a kind of moral awakening, and with it Davis' appearance changes also. First she wears heavy make up, at the end of the movie almost none. In between she gets beaten up badly by the mobster's thugs who carve a cross into her cheek. But she is attractive throughout. Incidentally, this is NOT a movie for Bogart fans. For once he is a clean cut good guy, not one of Bogart's fortes. His performance struck me as being one dimensional and totally uninspired.
Marked Woman has a good script by Abem Finkel and Robert Rossen (All the King's Men, The Hustler). Excellent portrayal of the brutal, uneducated mobster by Eduardo Ciannelli. Almost reminded me of Peter Sellers. Every now and then he grandly orders one of his bodyguard to make a note of some unimportant detail the bodyguard just nods obediently, he does not look like a master of calligraphy. The club the mobster takes over is called Club Intime. What does that mean, intime?" asks the mobster. Uh, intimate", answers the intimidated restaurateur. What does THAT mean?". The restaurateur writhes, presses fore and middle finger together and holds them out. Like that." Ah ... THEN WHY DON'T YOU SAY SO!" The chandelier in the club has to go, of course. Indirect lighting, that's the thing. The best line belongs to one of Davis' companions, calling an evening dress the sugar that makes the flies come round". Max Steiner's musical score for this movie is good and fitting.