Anna Lucasta (1958)

A young woman struggling with a sordid past finds that her biggest enemy had larger demons than she did.

Director:

Arnold Laven

Writer:

Philip Yordan (screenplay by)

Stars:

Eartha Kitt, Frederick O'Neal, Henry Scott

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Eartha Kitt	...	Anna Lucasta
Frederick O'Neal	...	Frank
Henry Scott	...	Rudolph Slocum
Rex Ingram	...	Joe Lucasta
James Edwards	...	Eddie
Isabel Cooley	...	Katie
Rosetta LeNoire	...	Stella (as Rosetta Le Noire)
Georgia Burke	...	Theresa
Claire Leyba	...	Blanche
Alvin Childress	...	Noah
John Proctor	...	Stanley
Charles Swain	...	Lester
Ike Jones	...	Policeman (as Isaac Jones)
Wallace Earl Laven	...	Secretary (as Eileen Harley)
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Danny

Storyline

When wild child Anna Lucasta (Kitt) is banished from the family home by her self-righteous father, she falls into a life of prostitution and into the arms of of streetwise sailor Danny Johnson (Davis). But after she shocks them all by finally finding true love with a well-heeled young suitor, her unforgiving father sets a vengeful plan in motion to remind his daughter of her sordid past and destroy her future forever.

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Plot Keywords:

pregnant sister | runaway bride | father daughter relationship | wedding veil | bridal veil | 

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Taglines:

The Notorious- Anna Lucasta

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally a play written by Philip Yordan, portraying a Polish-American family, the play was rewritten by American Negro Theater Director Abram Hill and director Henry Wagstaff Gribble for an all African-American cast.

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Goofs

When Joe dies, his head drops to the right. When shown from another angle, he is facing left.

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Quotes

Anna Lucasta: Everything's slowed down to a stop.
Noah: When your train is going too fast, God puts the brakes on, to give you a chance to think.
Anna Lucasta: I don't want to think. I want to drink.

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Connections

Version of Anna Lucasta (1949)

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Soundtracks

That's Anna
(Title song)
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Sung by Sammy Davis Jr.

User Reviews

Sammy Davis Jr and Eartha Kitt in volcanic family eruptions.

When Sammy Davis Jr and Eattha Kitt act together it's dynamite and a feast for the professional cinéaste. But they are not alone. Equally prominent is Rex Ingram as the father in a completely wayward character that can't control himself, disoriented in life, lost in booze, all mixed up because of his beloved daughter, that he felt he had to banish from his life forever, without succeeding - he is the one who begs her to come back. This is a great play enacted with grim intensity and empathy concerning all the characters, including the mother, the suitor, the family and even the lower people at the joint. An important part is played by Elmer Bernstein's music, ingeniously illustrating the rapidly changing moods and trains of thoughts, also including a fabulous show scene with Sammy going solo - this is actually the apex of the film and story, a spectacular visualization of Anna's downfall and helplessness in the hands of the totally irresponsible Danny, who loves her none the less, but like everybody else, not even he can control his love or his feelings but drifts to the storms of his caprices. In fact, Anna, the fallen woman, adored and despised by them all, is the only one with a character, while the others are hopelessly and helplessly without. But what fabulous acting by these three main characters! This is truly a film to enjoy for a theater and drama gourmet. 9,5 would be my vote.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 1959 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Anna Lucasta

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Longridge Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1