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Flamingo Road

1949, Movie, NR, 94 mins

Flamingo Road: Review

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A Crawford vehicle all the way, FLAMINGO ROAD profiles a woman many times wronged who struggles to reach her destination, happiness. Crawford is a cooch dancer in a carnival sideshow, a wiggler who catches the eye of Scott, a charming but weak-willed deputy to tyrant sheriff Greenstreet. When the show folds and Crawford is stranded, Scott gets her a job as a waitress. Greenstreet, who considers Scott his political protege and a controllable candidate for state senator, does not want to see his plans upset by some scheming female. He frames Crawford on a phony prostitution charge, and she is sent to prison. Greenstreet goes on to arrange a "politically correct" marriage for Scott with socialite Huston. After serving a prison term, Crawford returns to the southern town bent on revenge. George gives her a job as a hostess in a road house and there Crawford meets political boss Brian, who falls in love with her and later marries her. Through Crawford's machinations, Brian becomes a reformer and goes into head-to-head battle with Greenstreet for control of the state's political machine, wrecking Greenstreet's candidates' chances for re-election. One of these candidates is the spineless Scott, who goes to Crawford to beg for support. When she refuses, he commits suicide. Not missing any opportunities, Greenstreet uses his protege's death to scandalize Brian and Crawford. Incensed, Crawford goes to Greenstreet and the two struggle with a gun she has brought along. It goes off and the corrupt sheriff is killed. Crawford is again arrested and jailed, but Brian appears and offers his support, so it looks as if there is a glimmer of hope for the unlucky Crawford. The actress does a commendable job in a role that demands much; she is both tough and sensitive when needed, playing well against Scott, the weakling, and Brian, the strong man. And her best scenes are those in which the thoroughly malignant Greenstreet tests her strength. When Jack Warner offered Crawford FLAMINGO ROAD, she demanded that it be rewritten. Warner ordered it rewritten. Still she was not satisfied. Warner threw in Curtiz for direction, fine production mounting, and excellent supporting players, and Crawford finally acquiesced. leave a comment
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The Joan Crawford Collection, Vol. 2 (A Woman's Face / Flamingo Road / Sadie McKee / Strange Cargo / Torch Song)
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