Party Girl (1958 film)
| Party Girl | |
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 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Nicholas Ray |
| Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
| Written by | Story: Leo Katcher Screenplay: George Wells |
| Starring | Robert Taylor Cyd Charisse Lee J. Cobb |
| Music by | Jeff Alexander |
| Cinematography | Robert J. Bronner |
| Editing by | John McSweeney Jr. |
| Studio | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | October 28, 1958 |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Party Girl (1958) is a film noir filmed in Metrocolor and CinemaScope. The film was directed by Nicholas Ray and starred Robert Taylor, Cyd Charisse, and Lee J. Cobb. Charisse performs two dance routines in the gangster film. Party Girl marked the last film Taylor did under contract for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1]
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[edit] Plot
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.
[edit] Cast
- Robert Taylor as Thomas 'Tommy' Farrell
- Cyd Charisse as Vicki Gaye
- Lee J. Cobb as Rico Angelo
- John Ireland as Louis Canetto
- Kent Smith as Jeffrey Stewart
- Claire Kelly as Genevieve, Farrell's Wife
- Corey Allen as Cookie La Motte
- Lewis Charles as Danny Rimett, Golden Rooster Mgr.
- David Opatoshu as Lou Forbes, Farrell's Assistant
- Kem Dibbs as Joey Vulner, Rico's Mgr.
- Patrick McVey as O'Malley, Detective
- Barbara Lang as Ginger D'Amour, Party Girl
- Myrna Hansen as Joy Hampton, Party Girl
- Betty Utey as Cindy Consuelo, Party Girl
- Barrie Chase as Nola Peters, Party Girl
[edit] Critical reaction
A. H. Weiler, film critic for The New York Times gave the film a mixed review and said, ""Party Girl," it should be noted at once, is handsomely accoutered in color and CinemaScope and professionally handled by Nicholas Ray, director, and Joe Pasternak, producer, who approach their subject as if the explosive Chicago of the early Thirties was something they had just discovered. The fact is that "Party Girl," like the Charleston, is old hat, an old hat that would be amusing if it weren't so frighteningly reminiscent of a past best forgotten...There is little that is novel or exciting about this "Party Girl," despite her trappings or the occasional gunplay that surrounds her.[2]
The film today is considered a cult film by some. TV Guide's review of the film praised the films performances, "Party Girl offers only a standard story, but director Ray makes more of it through clever setups and inventive techniques, drawing forth excellent performances from Taylor (who is playing a role loosely based on Dixie Davis, lawyer for mob boss Dutch Schultz of New York, who later turned informant and married a beautiful showgirl). Cobb turns in a "Wild-Man-of-Borneo" performance wherein he not only eats the scenery but spits it out and chews on it again and again. Charisse, who performs two sensuous nightclub dances, does a commendable job with her cliché role."[3]
Film critic Bruce Eder liked the film and wrote, "Party Girl is regarded by many Nicholas Ray fans as the most beautiful looking of all of his movies. Shot in CinemaScope and color, and starring Cyd Charisse (with Robert Taylor, it gave cinematographer Robert J. Bronner one of the best showcases he ever had for his work, and was a treat to the eye of the viewer, a veritable explosion of color and motion for many of its best sequences."[4]
Film critic Dennis Schwartz said, "Ray does wonders with George Wells' slight script through his masterful use of the camera to evoke the characters' alienation and vulnerability, and by also including exotic dance numbers and diverting costumes he creates some stunning visuals that have an eye-catching surreal look...It's a honey of a film, never mind the superficial flaws."[5]
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 80% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on ten reviews.[6]
[edit] DVD
This movie has been released on DVD in The Warner Archive Collection (individual DVDs), but is only available online and is not available in retail stores.
[edit] References
- ^ Party Girl at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Weiler, A.H. The New York Times, film review, October 29, 1958. Last accessed: November 26, 2009.
- ^ TV Guide film review. Last accessed: November 26, 2009
- ^ Party Girl at AllRovi.
- ^ Schwartz, Dennis. Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, January 4, 2004. Last accessed: November 26, 2009.
- ^ Party Girl at Rotten Tomatoes. Last accessed: November 26, 2009.
[edit] External links
- Party Girl at the Internet Movie Database
- Party Girl at AllRovi
- Party Girl at the TCM Movie Database
- Party Girl film clip at TCM Media Room
- Party Girl film clip at You Tube (title sequence with film credits)
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