SLIGHTLY SCARLET

US, 1956, 92 minutes, Colour.
Arlene Dahl, John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Kent Taylor, Ted de Corsia.
Directed by Allan Dwan.

Slightly Scarlet is an entertaining thriller about police, government corruption, gangsters. It is based on a story by James M. Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice, Butterfly, Serenade).

The film was directed by veteran Allan Dwan, a maker of films from silent days to the '60s. It has colourful treatment, the Superscope process of the mid-'50s. The film also has a competent cast led by John Payne. However, the title refers to the two glamorous redhead sisters played glamorously by Rhonda Fleming and Arlene Dahl. The film shows the perennial themes of civic corruption, bribery and deals, the influence of gangsters. Very entertaining of its kind.

1. An interesting and entertaining thriller? Gangster thriller? Civic corruption?

2. The use of Superscope and colour, glamorous locations, seedy locations? The glamorous heroines in colour? Editing and pace? musical score?

3. The title and its reference to the leading ladies? To good and evil? The confrontation between the two sisters?

4. Ben Grace and his role with Sol Casper, his shrewdness. his deals, his links with the police and the promise of position, his attraction to wards June, influencing her, influencing Frank Jansen? The attacks on Casper and his gang by television, politicians? The murders? Grace and his attraction towards June? His following Dorothy, knowing about
her prison record, her flirting with him? The visit to Casper's beach house - and Dorothy's recklessness? His getting rid of Casper.- stepping into his shoes, having a police chief at his disposal? Dorothy's arrest and his beginning to pull strings? June's realisation of what he was about? His trying to get Casper's money, the decision to leave? June's refusal? The final set-up, confrontation with Casper, the shoot-out? His change of heart because bf June? The American gangster hero type?

5. June and Dorothy, Dorothy's emerging from prison, her blaming June? June and her work with Frank Jansen, her influence? The love between the two sisters, their growing up. June as protective. Dorothy as resentful, her stories about stealing? Having to cope with Dorothy's kleptomania? The arrest, June pleading with Grace? her discovery of the truth? Dorothy's flaunting herself with Grace? The encounter with Casper? The build-up to the shoot-out? Dorothy's bewilderment,
fear of going to prison or hospital? June's devotion to her? An ~interesting portrait of sisterly relationships, dependence, clash, rivalry?

6. The picture of the control of the city, elections, Frank Jansen as honest, Sol Casper and his murder of his critics? The taping of conversations, the deals with police chiefs, the need for controlling corruption?

7. The realism of the action? American cities and administration? The film's critique of corruption - via the thriller conventions?