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CrimeDramaRomance

Party Girl

- You'll meet her at the roughest parties ...with the toughest guys in town!

Slick lawyer Thomas Farrell has made a career of defending mobsters in trials. It's not until he meets a lovely showgirl at a mob party that he realizes that there's more to life than winning trials. Farrell tries to quit the racket, but mob boss Rico Angelo threatens to hurt the showgirl if Farrell leaves him.

Release Date : 1958-10-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Euterpe ProductionsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Robert Taylor

Character Name : Tommy Farrell

Original Name : Robert Taylor

Gender : Male

Cyd Charisse

Character Name : Vicki Gaye

Original Name : Cyd Charisse

Gender : Female

Lee J. Cobb

Character Name : Rico Angelo

Original Name : Lee J. Cobb

Gender : Male

John Ireland

Character Name : Louis Canetto

Original Name : John Ireland

Gender : Male

Kent Smith

Character Name : Jeffrey Stewart

Original Name : Kent Smith

Gender : Male

Claire Kelly

Character Name : Genevieve Farrell

Original Name : Claire Kelly

Gender : Female

Corey Allen

Character Name : Cookie La Motte

Original Name : Corey Allen

Gender : Male

Lewis Charles

Character Name : Danny Rimett

Original Name : Lewis Charles

Gender : Male

David Opatoshu

Character Name : Lou Forbes

Original Name : David Opatoshu

Gender : Male

Kem Dibbs

Character Name : Joey Vulner

Original Name : Kem Dibbs

Gender : Male

Patrick McVey

Character Name : Detective O'Malley

Original Name : Patrick McVey

Gender : Male

Barbara Lang

Character Name : Ginger D'Amour

Original Name : Barbara Lang

Gender : Female

Myrna Hansen

Character Name : Joy Hampton

Original Name : Myrna Hansen

Gender : Female

Betty Utey

Character Name : Cindy Consuelo

Original Name : Betty Utey

Gender : Male

Leon Alton

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Leon Alton

Gender : Male

Hy Anzell

Character Name : Man in Hall (uncredited)

Original Name : Hy Anzell

Gender : Male

Herb Armstrong

Character Name : Intern (uncredited)

Original Name : Herb Armstrong

Gender : Male

Walter Bacon

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Bacon

Gender : Male

Steve Benton

Character Name : Actor in Show (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Benton

Gender : Male

Margaret Bert

Character Name : Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Margaret Bert

Gender : Female

Herman Boden

Character Name : Speciality Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Herman Boden

Gender : Male

Peter Bourne

Character Name : Cab Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Bourne

Gender : Male

Marshall Bradford

Character Name : District Attorney (uncredited)

Original Name : Marshall Bradford

Gender : Male

Bob Calder

Character Name : Speciality Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Calder

Gender : Male

Pat Cawley

Character Name : Farrell's Secretary (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat Cawley

Gender : Male

Barrie Chase

Character Name : Showgirl (uncredited)

Original Name : Barrie Chase

Gender : Female

Dick Cherney

Character Name : Porter (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Cherney

Gender : Male

Jack R. Clinton

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack R. Clinton

Gender : Male

Gene Coogan

Character Name : Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : Gene Coogan

Gender : Male

Russell Custer

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Russell Custer

Gender : Male

John Damler

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : John Damler

Gender : Male

Jack Dodds

Character Name : Speciality Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Dodds

Gender : Male

Burt Douglas

Character Name : P.A. (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Burt Douglas

Gender : Male

Michael Dugan

Character Name : Jenks (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Dugan

Gender : Male

Charles Fogel

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Fogel

Gender : Male

John Franco

Character Name : Hood (uncredited)

Original Name : John Franco

Gender : Male

David Garcia

Character Name : Newsman (uncredited)

Original Name : David Garcia

Gender : Male

Jack Gargan

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Gargan

Gender : Male

Ed Haskett

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Ed Haskett

Gender : Male

Tom Hernández

Character Name : Sketch Artist (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Hernández

Gender : Male

Harry Hines

Character Name : Newsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Hines

Gender : Male

Stuart Holmes

Character Name : Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : Stuart Holmes

Gender : Male

Jimmie Horan

Character Name : Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : Jimmie Horan

Gender : Male

Michael Jeffers

Character Name : Apple Vendor (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Jeffers

Gender : Male

Paul Keast

Character Name : Judge Davers (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Keast

Gender : Male

Donald Kerr

Character Name : Backstage Card Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Donald Kerr

Gender : Male

Jack Lambert

Character Name : Nick (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Lambert

Gender : Male

Rusty Lane

Character Name : Judge John A. Davis (uncredited)

Original Name : Rusty Lane

Gender : Male

Herbert Lytton

Character Name : Judge Alfino (uncredited)

Original Name : Herbert Lytton

Gender : Male

Thomas Martin

Character Name : Prospective Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : Thomas Martin

Gender : Male

Philo McCullough

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Philo McCullough

Gender : Male

Sam McDaniel

Character Name : Jesse (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam McDaniel

Gender : Male

Harry Tom McKenna

Character Name : Politician (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Tom McKenna

Gender : Male

David McMahon

Character Name : Jail Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : David McMahon

Gender : Male

Harold Miller

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold Miller

Gender : Male

Hans Moebus

Character Name : Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : Hans Moebus

Gender : Male

Charles Morton

Character Name : Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Morton

Gender : Male

Forbes Murray

Character Name : Party Guest at Rico's (uncredited)

Original Name : Forbes Murray

Gender : Male

Maggie O'Byrne

Character Name : Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Maggie O'Byrne

Gender : Male

Sanita Pelkey

Character Name : Showgirl (uncredited)

Original Name : Sanita Pelkey

Gender : Female

Charles Perry

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Perry

Gender : Male

Albert Petit

Character Name : Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Albert Petit

Gender : Male

Carmen Phillips

Character Name : Rico's Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Carmen Phillips

Gender : Female

Michael Pierce

Character Name : Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Pierce

Gender : Male

José Portugal

Character Name : Club Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : José Portugal

Gender : Male

Paul Power

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Power

Gender : Male

Dolores Reed

Character Name : Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Dolores Reed

Gender : Male

Edwin Rochelle

Character Name : Mobster (uncredited)

Original Name : Edwin Rochelle

Gender : Male

Benny Rubin

Character Name : Mr. Field (uncredited)

Original Name : Benny Rubin

Gender : Male

Georges Saurel

Character Name : Hood (uncredited)

Original Name : Georges Saurel

Gender : Male

Aaron Saxon

Character Name : Frankie Gasto (uncredited)

Original Name : Aaron Saxon

Gender : Male

Jeffrey Sayre

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jeffrey Sayre

Gender : Male

Jerry Schumacher

Character Name : Newsboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Jerry Schumacher

Gender : Male

Vito Scotti

Character Name : Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Vito Scotti

Gender : Male

Floyd Simmons

Character Name : Assistant Prosecutor (uncredited)

Original Name : Floyd Simmons

Gender : Male

Ralph Smiley

Character Name : Venice Hotel Proprietor (uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Smiley

Gender : Male

J. Lewis Smith

Character Name : Juror (uncredited)

Original Name : J. Lewis Smith

Gender : Male

Sydney Smith

Character Name : Judge Bookwell (uncredited)

Original Name : Sydney Smith

Gender : Male

Charles Sullivan

Character Name : Cashier (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Sullivan

Gender : Male

Hal Taggart

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Hal Taggart

Gender : Male

Vaughn Taylor

Character Name : Dr. Caderman (uncredited)

Original Name : Vaughn Taylor

Gender : Male

Carl Thayler

Character Name : Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : Carl Thayler

Gender : Male

Arthur Tovey

Character Name : Restaurant Customer (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Tovey

Gender : Male

Herb Vigran

Character Name : Bailiff / Radio Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Herb Vigran

Gender : Male

Erich von Stroheim Jr.

Character Name : Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

Original Name : Erich von Stroheim Jr.

Gender : Male

Geraldine Wall

Character Name : Day Matron (uncredited)

Original Name : Geraldine Wall

Gender : Female

Sandra Warner

Character Name : Showgirl (uncredited)

Original Name : Sandra Warner

Gender : Female

Guy Way

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Guy Way

Gender : Male

Marc Wilder

Character Name : Speciality Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Marc Wilder

Gender : Male

Robert B. Williams

Character Name : Jail Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert B. Williams

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I know a girl a girl called Party, Party Girl. Crippled Lawyer Thomas Farrell (Robert Taylor) has made a career defending crooks in trials, so much so he's now the front line defender for the Chicago mob. But into his life comes dancer Vicki Gayle (Cyd Charisse), who as he starts to fall in love with her, makes him see that his life is worth so much more than that. However, mob king Rico Angelo (Lee J. Cobb) is keen to retain Farrell's services, at any price it seems. There's no getting away from it, Party Girl (a euphemism for a prostitute) features a very standard formulaic plot. It's also a very misleading title in that it doesn't scream out this is a crime picture. Directed by Nicholas Ray for MGM (his last for one of the big hitting studios), it's adapted by George Wells from a story by Leo Katcher. Supporting the three principal actors are John Ireland & Kent Smith. Robert J. Bronner (Jailhouse Rock) provides photography and the film is a CinemaScope/Metrocolor production. Set as it is in prohibition Chicago, it allows Ray to rise above the simple formula and blend his knack for visual touches with interesting characterisations. If we really are going to cement this in the film noir genre? Then it's more down to the director than anything in the story. Yes there's themes such as alienation, vulnerability and the core essence potential for tragi-love-born out of two characters stuck in differing forms of prostitution. But the script is so weak it needed Ray to put an almost surreal sheen over it. There's exotic dancing featuring prominently, some what a given with the weak Charisse starring (in fairness to her it's one hell of a cliché riddled role), but again Ray crafts in such a way it doesn't let the film feel too sprightly. Which is something that this lush production is in danger of being at times. Yet line those dance numbers alongside scenes such as a portrait of Jean Harlow being shot to pieces, or of Charisse being questioned by a policeman's Silhouette - and you get an oddity. And a very enjoyable one at that. This was Taylor's last contract film for MGM, and fittingly it's one of his very best performances. Again one tends to think this is probably down to Ray's coaxing, but regardless, Taylor plays Farrell with vulnerable elegance and a steely eyed determination that carries Charisse along with him. Thus the romance is believable, and yes, engaging. Cobb does another in his long line of larger than life characters. Chewing the scenery as much as his Rico character chews on his cigars. While Ireland is a by the numbers thug for hire and Kent Smith a talking prop. There's a fleeting performance from Corey Allen as baby faced psychopath Cookie La Motte, a character that the film could have definitely done with more of. Here's the main problem with Party Girl, it's just not edgy or dangerous enough. Which in a film involving gangsters, murders and crooked court cases, is an issue is it not? But thanks to Ray and Taylor the film overcomes the many flaws to wind up being a very enjoyable crime-love story based picture. Film noir though? Well that's debatable really. But lets not get into that... 7/10