I understand that this movie is a feast for Joan Crawford fans, but I think that anyone who watches this objectively will conclude that she was too old for the part. I say that knowing I run the risk of being called shallow, sexist, and worse by the great ladies' devoted fans. But realistically, while at 46 she was still an attractive woman with a nice figure, she would not have had every guy she meets throwing themselves at her. Especially hardened gangster types who had their pick of any young show girl. The one believable relationship is with the shy, straight laced accountant played by Kent Smith. But in the scenes with young handsome Steve Cochrane it feels like he's coming on to his mother's friend, and it doesn't seem like he's the type who's looking for Mrs. Robinson. When I see a star actress miscast this way it feels like it's all a big ego exercise for her. And since the movie got made as a Joan Crawford vehicle, certainly no one was going to tell her she looked a bit silly. Other reviewers have said the story is based in part on Bugsy Siegel and Virginia Hill. But Hill was a young knock-out, not an attractive "mature woman." (I could totally see Susan Hayward, 33 at the time, or Rhonda Fleming, 27, in the part. But then it wouldn't have been a Joan vehicle).
That issue aside, it's a well made and interesting movie. As someone who's read quite a bit of mob history, I like that the story accurately portrayed how important mob accountants were. The only crime that many gangsters could ever be convicted of (including Al Capone) was income tax evasion. So a talented accountant was way more valuable to the criminal organization than the most vicious hood or gunman.
Joan's age aside, the only other quibble I had with the movie was the ambiguous ending. Does Joan live or die? I guess it's left to the viewer to decide. And if she lives, how does she go about rebuilding her life. (I half expected her long since ditched ex-husband to show up. Shades of Joan in Mildred Pierce, where she also lost a child.)
That issue aside, it's a well made and interesting movie. As someone who's read quite a bit of mob history, I like that the story accurately portrayed how important mob accountants were. The only crime that many gangsters could ever be convicted of (including Al Capone) was income tax evasion. So a talented accountant was way more valuable to the criminal organization than the most vicious hood or gunman.
Joan's age aside, the only other quibble I had with the movie was the ambiguous ending. Does Joan live or die? I guess it's left to the viewer to decide. And if she lives, how does she go about rebuilding her life. (I half expected her long since ditched ex-husband to show up. Shades of Joan in Mildred Pierce, where she also lost a child.)