Flamingo Road (1949)

A small town corrupt sheriff manipulates local candidates to the state legislature but he eventually comes into conflict with a visiting carnival dancer.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

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

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Zachary Scott, Sydney Greenstreet

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Carnival dancer Lane Bellamy finds herself stranded in a southern town ruled by corrupt political boss Titus Semple. Lane becomes romantically involved with sheriff Fielding Carlisle, a weakling whose career is being driven by Titus. Seeing Lane as a liability to his own political ambitions, Titus mounts a campaign to get her driven out of town. She finds she can't get a job and even gets arrested on a trumped-up morals charge. Released from jail, Lane finds work as a "hostess" at Lutie-Mae's road house, where she meets Dan Reynolds, another member of the town's political machine. They marry and move to a home on Flamingo Road, the town's social pinnacle. Their marriage is soon marked by scandal when a drunken Carlisle visits Lane at home one evening and shoots himself.

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Plot Keywords:

false arrest | graft | senator | election | campaign | 

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Taglines:

A wrong girl for the right side of the tracks.

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boulevard des passions

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$1,528,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,263,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,896,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Curtiz Productions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Virginia Huston would appear with Joan Crawford again as her secretary, Ann, in Sudden Fear (1952).

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Goofs

When Field first goes into Lane's tent the radio is playing and she is heard singing. Cut to a shot of Lane lying on a cot. Her voice is heard singing, but her lips don't move.

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Quotes

Dan Reynolds: You can go a long way in this state if you want to. You've got a good name and with Titus backing you, you've got a good start. Stick with Titus. And remember one thing. He's the only man I know that can make a sow's ear out of a silk purse. Somehow I always hate to see it happen. Here's luck to you son.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are presented on a book as someone turns the pages.

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Connections

Followed by Flamingo Road (1980)

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Soundtracks

If I Could Be with You
(uncredited)
Music by James P. Johnson
Lyrics by Henry Creamer
Sung by Joan Crawford in the tent and at Lute Mae's Tavern
Also performed by an unidentified singer at the Rendezvous Room
Played often in the score

User Reviews

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.