Slightly Scarlet

Dorothy Lyons is a kleptomaniac released from prison on parole into the custody of her sister June. June is secretary to a reform candidate standing in the mayoral election. Ben Grace, who works for Solly Caspar, the man holding the city's criminal order, sees the situation and thinks of using it to damage the candidate. But Ben ends up between both sisters. The source is James M. Cain's novel Love's Lovely Counterfeit. Allan Dwan directed, with John Alton as cinematographer. That is what the film is known for: Alton was the master of black and white noir and did the same work here in colour and on a wide screen. It is one of the few films noir of the fifties shot in colour; the shadows give way to red, and even the hair of the two sisters is part of that scheme. Ninety-nine minutes.