Flamingo Road

It occurs to me that the classical Hollywood script often morphs from one setup to a different kind in the latter half of a film, so that while the characters remain, their loyalties and circumstances change. Yet this also changes the mood and the simplicity with which they started out, and new drama has to be invented to keep an already convoluted story going. Anyway, this rise-and-fall soap is stylishly directed by Michael Curtiz, and rather watchable.

Rather sophisticated story of corrupt individuals from Michael Curtiz. Perhaps a little too polished to really get the dirty nature across, but it's a fine vehicle for Joan Crawford, who does dazzle in her own unique way.

Crawford is perfect in this southern-fried epic as an aging kootch dancer with a Phd in hard knocks who refuses to surrender her vitality, and George shines in the small role of Lutie Mae, the madam of the "roadhouse." Of course Greenstreet is imposing, but his Southern accent fails to convince and he often looks very old and very tired. Curtiz gussies up the silly plot with Germanic shadows and showy camera set-ups of carnivals, ceiling fans and poker games. High class Metro sleaze.

Delectably sleazy and sweaty melodrama starring Crawford and Greenstreet. Overdone, crass and soapy in equal (and just the right) measures, this is among the most superb of it's genre.