The Damned Don't Cry

1950

1h 43m

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

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22 Images

Crime

Drama

Fed up with her small-town marriage, a woman goes after the big time and gets mixed up with the mob.

Directors

Vincent Sherman

Writers

Gertrude Walker(story by)

Harold Medford(screenplay by)

Jerome Weidman(screenplay by)

Stars

Joan Crawford

David Brian

Steve Cochran

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Watch A Woman With Brains

Top cast

Ethel Whitehead

George Castleman

Nick Prenta

Martin Blackford

Grady

Patricia Longworth

Sandra

Jim Whitehead

Mrs. Castleman

Roy Whitehead

Messenger (uncredited)

Bonnie Bannon

Woman in Casino (uncredited)

George Baxter

Mr. Fredericks - Syndicate Boss (uncredited)

Paul Bradley

Castleman's Assistant (uncredited)

Kathryn Card

Mrs. Sullivan (uncredited)

Tristram Coffin

George - Maitre d'Hotel at Grady's (uncredited)

Herschel Daugherty

Rewrite Man (uncredited)

Diane DeLaire

Castleman's Secretary (uncredited)

Directors

Vincent Sherman

Writers

Gertrude Walker(story by)

Harold Medford(screenplay by)

Jerome Weidman(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Joan Crawford always could portray the ambitious, strong-willed character really well - and she does it here too. Living an hand-to-mouth existence with her husband and young son, tragedy befalls her and she ("Ethel/Lorna") determines to start a new life. Initially flogging cigars in an hotel, but soon her beauty helps her meet new, and increasingly influential, wealthy, friends. When she meets "Marty" (Kent Smith), a small time accountant whom she introduces to her restaurant owning pal "Grady" (Hugh Sanders), this honest fellow starts to attract attention of his own, the coat-tails of whom she is happy to travel along on, too. Before long, both are embroiled in a perilous nationwide gaming racket headed by her latest beau "George" (David Brian). When he gets suspicious of one of his underlings "Nick" (Steve Cochran), she is despatched to use her wiles on him - only, that doesn't quite go according to plan... You kind of feel sorry for poor old "Marty" - infatuated by Crawford, but not on her radar as she seeks wealth and power, inherently drawn to the wrong 'uns. The ending is a bit rushed, but the rest of it takes it's time to demonstrate this women's ability to twist men around her little finger. The pace is good, the male performances maybe just a bit stereotyped - but it's still a great opportunity for the star to be exactly that.

Geronimo196727 Dec, 2022