WICKED WOMAN
US, 1953, 77 minutes, Black and white.
Beverly Michaels, Richard Egan, Percy Helton, Evelyn Scott.
Directed by Russell Rouse.
Wicked Woman is a small film from the early 1950s, a style vehicle for Beverly Michaels who was, in fact, soon to marry the director, Russell Rouse, and be with him for several decades. She appeared in films only from the late 40s to the mid-1950s. Richard Egan was at the beginning of his career as a leading man. Character actor, Percy Helton, appeared in quite a number of films and gets a chance to be part of the headlines here.
Beverly Michaels portrays Billie, a woman who moves from town to town, a fairly trashy outlook but an ability to charm when she needs to, getting jobs, leading men on, this time trying two plan to charm the owner of the bar where she works to leave his wife, an alcoholic, and move to Mexico with her.
An intricate plan, a couple of near misses, but an ironic failure of the plan – and her having to get on the bus to move to another town and scheme.
1. A B-budget drama of the early 1950s? The femme fatale in an ordinary American town? The effect on people, on men? And her surviving to wreak further difficulties?
2. Black-and-white photography, the bus trips during the credits, the town, the bars, the boarding house, the streets, real estate offices, shops? The musical score, the song? An ordinary contemporary 1950s atmosphere?
3. Billie, her appearance, blonde, addresses, her walk, the touch of the seductive? Travelling on the bus, from where? Inquiries about boarding, the house, the landlady, the room, payment? The bathroom, the angry lady trying to get in? The man complaining about the noise at night? Charlie and his presence in the house?
4. Billie, application for jobs, going to meet Dora, the pleasant talk, being employed? The initial encounter with Matt, his suspicions?
5. Charlie, his place in the house, his appearance, size, imposing on Billie, her borrowing money from him, his willingly giving it, the promise of a night out?
6. Billie at work, popular with the men, the drinks, supplying drink to Dora, her alcoholism, her flirting with Matt, kissing him? Encouraging him to sell the bar?
7. Matt, working at the bar, marrying Dora, her alcoholism, her father being alcoholic, his saving the bar? Infatuated with Billie? The issue of selling the bar, the investigations, the contact with the buyer, his visit to the bar, the documents, Billie posing as his wife, charming the men? His not knowing about escrow and the delay? Billie having to get a refund on the air ticket, the plan to go to Mexico, the cover of the holiday and their leaving?
8. The prospective owner, visiting the bar, Billie’s quick thinking and saying that her nickname was Billie, Dora arriving, bossing everybody about?
9. Charlie, his impositions on Billie, in the room, his kissing her, Matt arriving, his anger, condemning Billie? His going back to Dora? Getting the money back – and the estate agents allowing it, wondering about Billie?
10. Billie, getting on the bus, the man looking at her – and her future? Repeating the same story?
