Party Girl (1958)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(317 ratings)

Vicki Gaye (Cyd Charisse) is a dancer at a night club in early 1930's Chicago. A healthy cynic who still possesses some ideals, she entertains no illusions about the "invitation" (or the $100 that goes with it) that she gets to a party hosted by mob kingpin Rico Angelo (Lee J. Cobb) -- but she still… More Vicki Gaye (Cyd Charisse) is a dancer at a night club in early 1930's Chicago. A healthy cynic who still possesses some ideals, she entertains no illusions about the "invitation" (or the $100 that goes with it) that she gets to a party hosted by mob kingpin Rico Angelo (Lee J. Cobb) -- but she still won't let Angelo's head torpedo Louis Canetto (John Ireland) get near her. Angelo's attorney Thomas Farrell (Robert Taylor) is another story -- he's a more complicated than the men he defends, and still enough of an idealist so that when he and Vicki cross swords about who is the worse hypocrite, it actually affects him. Farrell, whose right leg has been crippled from birth and getting worse, took the easy way to success by pursuing a criminal practice, including getting Canetto off a murder rap -- but after meeting Vicki he starts to see another path to take, and also embarks on a year of surgical procedures to cure the worst of the pain in his leg. And he comes out a new man, with a new plan in life, including starting over in a practice that doesn't involve criminal law. But Angelo plans on having Farrell fight an old friend, prosecutor Jeffrey Stewart (Kent Smith), who is trying to indict Angelo's associate Cooky La Motte (Corey Allen). Farrell resists, until Angelo threatens to harm Vicki -- and when the case and the trail blow up in both sides' faces, he finds himself caught between the mob and the law, with Vicki urging him to do the right thing. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Nicholas Ray
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1958 Wide
On DVD: Feb 26, 1992
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Taylor and Charisse have never been better, and rarely has Ray's theme of two flawed individuals trying to strike a symmetrical balance achieved a more beautiful and convulsive expression.
, TIME Magazine
Unfortunately, the picture's plot (good girl helps bad guy go straight) fits the mood like a concrete overshoe, and the more than generous serving of cheesecake is pretty soggy stuff.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
There is little that is novel or exciting about this Party Girl, despite her trappings or the occasional gunplay that surrounds her.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
The CinemaScope and Metrocolor production gives the film a regal feeling that is at odds with the edgy, dangerous setting.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
MGM exploitation flick starring Robert Taylor and Cyd Charisse near close of their careers.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A hard-hitting crime drama.
, Time Out
As in all Ray's films, ideas and emotions are transformed into stunning visuals.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's a honey of a film, never mind the superficial flaws.
, Film4
The two leads are great at displaying vulnerability around each other, but it's Cobb's role as the gangster boss that steals the acting honours.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Party Girl is a negligible mess whose biggest obstacle is itself and its inability to figure out what it wants to be. At points its a mob movie, nothing as great as Warner Bros was putting out in the 30s but a mob film nonetheless. Then it meanders into Douglas Sirk melodrama… More
Party Girl is a negligible mess whose biggest obstacle is itself and its inability to figure out what it wants to be. At points its a mob movie, nothing as great as Warner Bros was putting out in the 30s but a mob film nonetheless. Then it meanders into Douglas Sirk melodrama territory where it also fails. Oh, and there are also a couple of dance numbers where Cyd Charisse proves she can dance better than she can act. Robert Taylor does an okay enough job and Lee J Cobb... well, plays Lee J Cobb as a bad guy. The best part of Party Girl outside of its completely inappropriate title is Nicholas Ray's direction and the photography. Namely during those previously mentioned dance numbers. Aside from those things I was waiting for it to end after the first 45 minutes.

Cast

            Robert Taylor as Thomas Farrell

            Cyd Charisse as Vicki Gaye

            Lee J Cobb as Rico Angelo

            John Ireland as Louis Canetto

            Kent Smith as Jeffrey Stewart

            Corey Allen as Cooky La Motte

            Lewis Charles as Danny Rimett

            David Opatoshu as Lou Forbes

            Patrick McVey as O'Malley

            Barbara Lang as Tall Blond Party Girl

            Myrna Hansen as Joy Hampton

            Betty Utey as Party Girl

            Hy Anzell as Man

            Herb Armstrong as Intern

            Margaret Bert as Wardrobe Woman

            Peter Bourne as Cab Driver

            Marshall Bradford as District Attorney

            Barrie Chase as Showgirl

            John Damler as Detective

            Ken Dibbs as Joey Vulner

            Burt Douglas as P.A

            Jack Gargan as Officer

            Tom Hernandez as Sketch Artist

            Harry Hines as Newsboy

            Stuart Holmes as Juror

            Paul Keast as Judge Davers

            Jack Lambert as Nick

            Rusty Lane as Judge John A. Dasen

            Sam McDaniel as Jesse

            David McMahon as Guard

            Carmen Phillips as Ricos' Girlfriend

            Aaron Saxon as Frankie Gasto

            Vito Scotti as Hotel Clerk

            Floyd Simmons as Assistant Prosecutor

            Ralph Smiley as Hotel Proprietor

            Sydney Smith as Judge Bookwell

            Vaughan Taylor as Dr. Caderman

            Erich Von Stroheim Jr. as Police Lieutenant

            Geraldine Wall as Day Matron

            Marc Wilder as Speciality Dancer

            Robert B. Williams as Guard

            Michael Dugan as Jenks

            David Garcia as Newsman

            Benny Rubin as Mr. Field

            Dolores Reed as Woman

            John Franco as One of Cookie's Henchmen

            Herbert C. Lytton as Judge Alfino

            Michael Pierce
            
            Sanita Pelkey
            
            Georges Saurel as Rico's Hood

            Jerry Schumacher as Newsboy

            J. Lewis Smith as Juror

            Carl Thayler
            
            Clare Kelly as Genevieve
See full cast