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Wicked as They Come
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Wikipedia article
'Wicked as They Come' ('Portrait in Smoke' in the United States) is a 1956 British film noir directed by Ken Hughes and starring Arlene Dahl, Philip Carey and Herbert Marshall.
Plot
Poor girl from the slums Katherine Allenbourg trades on her looks. She enters a beauty contest, then charms the elderly gentleman running it, Sam Lewis, into fixing it so she will win first prize, a trip to Europe. She promptly abandons Sam.
On a plane to London, after changing her name to Kathy Allen, she is attracted to Tim O'Bannion, who works for an ad agency. However, she's determined to land someone wealthier and photographer Larry Buckham, whom she meets at her London hotel, fills the bill. Invited to use his charge account at a department store for a wedding dress, Kathy makes many purchases, pawns the merchandise and leaves Larry without a word.
She gets a job at Tim's advertising firm and seduces Stephen Collins, the man who runs it, and who is married. Tim arouses more passion in her, but Kathy's strictly out for herself. She demands Collins divorce his wife Virginia, whose father John Dowling owns the agency. Virginia tries to pay her off, but Kathy requests a transfer to the agency's Paris headquarters, where she immediately uses her wiles to get Dowling to marry her.
Anonymous threats begin by mail and phone. Someone in the shadows begins stalking her. Kathy picks up a gun and shoots, killing her husband. No one believes her tale of a prowler and Kathy is tried, convicted and sentenced to die.
Realizing that Larry is the man behind this turn of events, Tim reveals to him something he only just discovered, an explanation for Kathy's cruel treatment of men. When she was a girl, she was brutally assaulted. Larry has a change of heart and confesses to stalking her. Kathy's prison sentence is reduced, and she hopes Tim will give her another chance once she gets out.
Cast
* Arlene Dahl as Kathleen "Kathy" Allen, 'ne' Allenbourg
* Philip Carey as Tim O'Bannion
* Herbert Marshall as Stephen Collins
* Michael Goodliffe as Larry Buckham
* Ralph Truman as John Dowling
* Sid James as Frank Allenbourg
* David Kossoff as Sam Lewis
* Faith Brook as Virginia Collins
* Frederick Valk as Mr. Reisner
* Marvin Kane as Mike Lewis
* Patrick Allen as Willie
* Gil Winfield as Chuck
* Jacques B. Brunius as Inspector Caron
Production
The film was based on a novel 'Portrait in Smoke' which was published in 1950."Fiction In Brief: Connecticut Heaven Doomed Eden Paid in Full Hemming in Earnest", 'New York Times' 6 August 1950: BR9. The novel was adapted for TV in 1950.[https://archive.org/details/variety180-1950-10/page/n223/mode/1up?q=%22portrait+in+smoke%22 Review of tv production] at 'Variety'
In May 1955 it was announced Mike Frankovich had purchased the screen rights to the novel, to be made under his deal with Columbia. It was the third property Frankovich had purchased, the others being 'Joe MacBeth' and 'Wise Guys Never Work'."Buys 'Portrait in Smoke'", 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 15 May 1955: q2. The film would be made by an associated company, Film Locations, run by Maxwell Setton."SETTON TO FILM BALLINGER NOVEL: Own Company to Begin Work in London Next Month on 'Portrait in Smoke'", Special to 'The New York Times'. 4 October 1955: 39.
Laurence Harvey was offered a lead role but turned it down."Drama: Laurence Harvey Faces Heavy Duty; Lew Ayres' Religious Films Unique", Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif] 17 October 1955: B11. Lead roles eventually went to Arlene Dahl, Phil Carey and Herbert Marshall."Drama: Autry Frames His Life Film; History of Ballet Due; Dahl Partners Set", Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 22 December 1955: B7.
Filming was to have started in London on 28 November 1955 but eventually started 2 December 1955."Drama: Noted Heavy Raymond Burr Sets Up Company; Kelly, Sinatra to Team", Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 4 October 1955: B9.
Reception
The 'Los Angeles Times' said it was "written and directed with humour as well as ironic drama".Arlene Dahl "'Wicked;' 'Nightfall Good Meller'", Scheuer, Philip K. 'Los Angeles Times' 17 January 1957: B9.
'Filmink' said "The film would have been better off following the lead of the poster art rather than the script: at heart this should have been a campy Joan Crawford vehicle but its far too reticent and dull."
Lawsuit
In March 1957 Arlene Dahl filed suit against Columbia for $1,000,000 claiming the advertising for the film was "obscene, degrading and offensive.""ARLENE DAHL SUES ON AD: Actress Charges Film Publicity Is Obscene and Degrading", 'New York Times' 7 March 1957: 25. She said she was humiliated by the use of composite drawings and photographs advertising the film."Arlene Dahl Suit Over Ads Delayed", 'Los Angeles Times' 16 April 1957: 22. The case went to trial in May. The judge was unsympathetic during the hearing say he felt the photograph was refined."New York Justice Tells Arlene Dahl Photo Is 'Refined'", 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 2 May 1957: c6. The case was dismissed in August."ACTRESS LOSES SUIT: Miss Dahl Sought $1,000,000 Over Ads for Movie", 'New York Times' 27 August 1957: 31.
References
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