''Wicked Woman'' is a 1953 American low-budget

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

film directed by

Russell Rouse Russell Rouse (November 20, 1913 – October 2, 1987) was an American screenwriter, director, and producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality" of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produce ...

and starring Beverly Michaels, Richard Egan,

Percy Helton Percy Alfred Helton (January 31, 1894 – September 11, 1971) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He was one of the most familiar faces and voices in Hollywood of the 1950s. Career A Manhattan native, Helton began acting ...

, and Evelyn Scott. The film was written by Rouse and

Clarence Greene Clarence Greene (August 10, 1913 – June 17, 1995) was an American screenwriter and film producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality of his screenplays and for films noir and television episodes produced in the 1950s. Ca ...

Plot

An attractive blonde drifter (Beverly Michaels) buses into town and gets a job as a waitress at a local bar. She sets her sights on the bar's handsome owner (Richard Egan), who is married to an alcoholic (Evelyn Scott). Her plans are for the two of them to sell the bar without the wife's knowledge and skip to Mexico together with the money – but a boarder (Percy Helton) at the rooming house where she is staying discovers her plans, and he comes up with a plan of his own.

Cast

* Beverly Michaels as Billie Nash * Richard Egan as Matt Bannister *

as Charlie Borg * Evelyn Scott as Dora Bannister *

Robert Osterloh Robert Osterloh (May 31, 1918 – April 16, 2001) was an American actor. His career spanned 20 years, appearing in films such as '' The Dark Past'' (1948), '' The Wild One'' (1953), '' I Bury the Living'' (1958) and '' Young Dillinger'' (1965). ...

as Larry Lowry *

Frank Ferguson Frank S. Ferguson (December 25, 1906 – September 12, 1978) was an American character actor with hundreds of appearances in both film and television. Background Ferguson was the younger of two children of W. Thomas Ferguson, a native Scottish ...

as Bill Porter *

Bernadene Hayes Bernadene Hayes (March 15, 1912 – August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actress. Early years Hayes was born at 3855 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hayes. She had three brothers an ...

as Mrs. Walters

Production

The film, produced under the working title of ''Free and Easy'', was the first leading role for Richard Egan.

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' called the film a "misguided little melodrama" that "manages to squander some persuasively realistic upholstery".

References

External links

* * * *
''Wicked Woman''
at

Trailers from Hell ''Trailers from Hell'' (branded as ''Trailers from Hell!'') is a web series in which filmmakers discuss and promote individual movies through commenting on their trailers. While the series emphasizes horror, science fiction, fantasy, cult, and expl ...

{{Russell Rouse 1953 films 1953 crime films 1950s English-language films American black-and-white films American crime films Film noir Films directed by Russell Rouse Films produced by Edward Small Films scored by Buddy Baker (composer) United Artists films 1950s American films