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

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Ethel Whitehead (Lorna Hansen Forbes)
David Brian	...	George Castleman (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

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Screen Director's Playhouse" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 5, 1951 with Joan Crawford reprising her film role.

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Quotes

Ethel Whitehead: The only thing that counts is that stuff you take to the bank, that filthy buck that everybody sneers at, but slugs to get.

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Connections

Featured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002)

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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.

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)

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