The Damned Don't Cry (1950)

A New York socialite climbs the ladder of success man by man until a life among rich gangsters gives her what she thought she always wanted.

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Harold Medford (screenplay), Jerome Weidman (screenplay)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, David Brian, Steve Cochran

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Ethel Whitehead aka Lorna Hansen Forbes
David Brian	...	George Castleman aka Joe Caveny
Steve Cochran	...	Nick Prenta
Kent Smith	...	Martin Blackford
Hugh Sanders	...	Grady
Selena Royle	...	Patricia Longworth
Jacqueline deWit	...	Sandra
Morris Ankrum	...	Jim Whitehead
Edith Evanson	...	Mrs. Castleman
Richard Egan	...	Roy

Storyline

The murder of gangster Nick Prenta touches off an investigation of mysterious socialite Lorna Hansen Forbes, who seems to have no past, and has now disappeared. In flashback, we see the woman's anonymous roots; her poor working-class marriage, which ends in tragedy and her determination to find "better things." Soon finding that sex appeal is her only salable commodity, she climbs from man to man toward the center of a nationwide crime syndicate...a very perilous position.

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Plot Keywords:

dysfunctional marriage | bare chested male | hairy chest | manipulative female | taming of the shrew | 

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Taglines:

Warner Bros.' Flaming Stars of 'Flamingo Road' Meet in Scarlet Shadows Again!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Victim

Filming Locations:

1148 East Alejo Road, Palm Springs, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,233,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,540,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,211,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kent Smith's character's name is actually "Blackford". Goes well with Joan Crawford's name, "Whitehead". (Note the spelling on his new office door, not to mention the pronunciation of his name).

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Quotes

Nick Prenta: [intercepting and examining the check she's offered for her gambling losses] Your check's no good, Mrs. Forbes.
Ethel Whitehead: [coldly] My check's good anywhere.
Nick Prenta: [tearing up the check] Except here.
Ethel Whitehead: [looks annoyed]
Nick Prenta: That's right. I'm fresh. But I'm also generous. Tonight, you're the guest of the house. Now tomorrow night, that's different. Tomorrow night you can lose your shirt.
[looks her over and bends closer]
Nick Prenta: I'll even pay to see that.

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Connections

Referenced in True Romance (1993)

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Soundtracks

Trade Winds
(uncredited)
Music by Cliff Friend
Played at the Hacienda when Lorna meets Prenta

User Reviews

The Damned Would Cheer After Seeing this Film ****

5 years after "Mildred Pierce" and Joan Crawford is at it again. Again, she is poor and is willing to climb to the top no matter what. In this film, she becomes involved with organized crime and becomes a real pro in being used to infiltrate other wayward mobsters.

From poverty to that Mildred Pierce mink, Crawford gave a truly memorable performance. She will stop at nothing to get to the top.

Along the way, she seduces timid accountant, played masterfully by Kent Smith, to join the mob only two realize that the two of them are trapped.

Another favorite co-star of Crawford, David Brian appears as the head mobster who is against violence but must come to grips with it when renegade hood, the always terrific Steve Cochran, seduces Crawford and then goes after her when he discovers that she is a Brian stooge.

This is a gripping film-noir at its best.