The Lady in Red (1979)

56% of users liked it
(88 ratings)

Escaping from her childhood life of poverty and abuse on the farm, in the 1930s, Polly Franklin (Pamela Sue Martin) sets her sights on Hollywood as the promised land and leaves home. However, she doesn't get that far - she lands in Chicago instead. Taking the low-paying jobs which are available to… More Escaping from her childhood life of poverty and abuse on the farm, in the 1930s, Polly Franklin (Pamela Sue Martin) sets her sights on Hollywood as the promised land and leaves home. However, she doesn't get that far - she lands in Chicago instead. Taking the low-paying jobs which are available to her, she quickly finds herself in a situation which is as oppressive as anything she knew at home. Despite her best efforts to keep her head above water, she soon winds up in prison. The best situation in her life comes afterwards, when she becomes a prostitute in a whorehouse run by Anna Sage (Louise Fletcher). However, even this doesn't last, as the police close down the house during a "decency crusade." Back on the streets once again, she meets a wonderful man (Robert Conrad) who claims to be working for the Board of Trade. She tells Anna (who is still her friend) about this new love in her life, and Anna realizes that he must be America's Most Wanted Man, the bank robber John Dillinger. Anna, in danger of being deported, arranges for the police to corner Dillinger and kill him while in Anna and Polly's company. In the ensuing publicity, everyone makes it look as though Polly was Dillinger's betrayer, and her life becomes even more miserable than it was before. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Lewis Teague
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Feb 19, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Apr 30, 2002

Critic Reviews

John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
'It hurts,' Polly says, after losing her virgnity to a lying cad; this is her defining comment, and a succinct summation of Sayles' judgment on the screwing that much of America takes every day from the people in charge.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
This is populist moviemaking, Corman style, courtesy of that old lefty John Sayles.

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Cast

            Pamela Sue Martin as Polly Franklin

            Robert Conrad as John Dillinger

            Louise Fletcher as Anna Sage

            Christopher Lloyd as Frognose

            Robert Hogan as Jake Lingle

            Laurie Heineman as Rose Shimkus

            Glenn Withrow as Eddie

            Rod Gist as Pinetop

            Peter Hobbs as Pops Geissler

            Nancy Anne Parsons as Tiny Alice

            Alan Vint as Melvin Purvis

            Blackie Dammett as Immigration Officer

            Chip Fields as Satin

            Joe Flaherty
            
            Milt [Lewis] Kogan as Preacher

            Ilene Kristen as Wynona

            Dick Miller as Patek

            Jay Rasumny as Bill

            Terri Taylor as Mae

            Young Buck as Hennessey

            Michael Cavanaugh as Undercover Cop

            Robert Forster
            
            Peter Miller as Fritz

            Mary Woronov as Woman Bankrobber

            Phillip Richard Allen as Elliot wess

            Arnie Moore as Trucker
See full cast

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