Portrait of a Sinner (1959)

Young blonde woman seems to destroy everyone she comes in contact with.

Director:

Robert Siodmak

Writers:

Robin Maugham (novel), Audrey Erskine-Lindop (screenplay)

Stars:

Nadja Tiller, Tony Britton, William Bendix

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nadja Tiller	...	Ila Hansen
Tony Britton	...	Mike Thompson
William Bendix	...	Reg Barker
Natasha Parry	...	Margaret Goreham
Norman Wooland	...	David Fraser
Donald Wolfit	...	Lord Drewell
Tony Wright	...	Jack
Adrienne Corri	...	Jane Buller
Joyce Carey	...	Mrs. Thompson
John Welsh	...	Dr. Thompson
Martin Miller	...	Piggy
Michael Ward	...	Head Waiter
Edward Chapman	...	Willy Catch
Norman Pierce	...	Barman
Beatrice Varley	...	Hotel Manageress

Storyline

Young blonde woman seems to destroy everyone she comes in contact with.

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Taglines:

"I am the image of evil...only when you are with me...can you feel alive..."

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1959 (UK)

Also Known As:

Portrait of a Sinner

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios Ltd. Elstree, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

George Minter Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Donald Wolfit and Tony Wright both receive 'Guest Stars' credits.

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Quotes

Mike Thompson: You beautiful, blonde bitch!

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Connections

Referenced in The Dangerous (1995)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No.5
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

What Happens When the Noir Scriptwriter Forgets To Include A Plot

A young archaeologist, maneuvered into an engagement he does not quite want, encounters a stunning blonde with a German accent and decides to kick over the traces, much to the surprise of anyone (except, maybe, the blonde). He becomes agitated when the young lady's colorful past starts to intrude itself on his comfortable existence, and is truly appalled when he has the true PORTRAIT OF A SINNER. Will our hero nonetheless benefit from his dance with his dark side, or will our heroine drag him into the mire of her turbulent world?

There is a lot of good in this little bit of Brit Noir, including a script that is a lot more adult than usual for 1959. Since the adult bits are handled with wit, it comes across as sophisticated (and funny) rather than coarse. William Bendix, as the vulgar fellow who may or may not be our femme fatale's employer, adds some unique art design, as well as quite a good performance, to the mix. Also featured is some really good repartee. The problem is that there really is not all that much going on here, other than the tale of a lucky young man who wants a little naughty with his luck, before he takes up his rightful place in society. As a result, you might find yourself just a shade disappointed at the end of it all, despite the obvious talent involved.