Our current viewing habits have gotten a bit bimodal lately. We watch all the latest action blockbusters and comic books movies, and some of the Good Old Stuff too. Hence, Slightly Scarlet (1956), a film noir/melodrama.
It starts with Rhonda Fleming picking up sister Arlene Dahl when she gets out of prison. In a car nearby, John Payne discreetly takes some pictures. It turns out that Fleming is the secretary and fiancée of the rich man running for mayor. And Payne is working for crooked Ted di Corsica, looking for blackmail material.
But Payne doesn’t hand the photos over to his boss. He starts playing his own game, looking to take over the racket. He gets his buddy appointed police commissioner - an honest guy who now owes him a favor. And he starts romancing Fleming. It would all be pretty sweet except Dahl is more of a psycho than a bad girl. She wants Payne for herself, and also cant help doing some more shoplifting. Add in some mad money in a safe at the mob boss’ beach house, and you’ve got a movie.
A movie that at times is a noir - the mobsters, the crooked politicians, and John Payne. And at times it’s a technicolor weepie - Fleming’s amazing love nest, provided by her boyfriend mayor, with its colonial modern decor, the “problem” sister, all the love triangles.
This isn’t quite our thing - Ms Spenser went off to find something to do early on. But I found it both interesting and a little astonishing. Did I mention the spear gun?
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