Gangsters, stolen loot, a dangerous femme fatale...and Jackie Gleason! Nothing to laugh at in this 1942 Film Noir film that features a sultry dame who may be the worst of the worst as far as thugs go in this one. The very glamourous Faye Emerson plays our bank robber, a role that betrays her beauty and style. Nevertheless, if Jackie Gleason can play a thug heavy, Ms. Emerson can play a hardened criminal. Does it work? Absolutely...but there are twists in this one. Today we look at "Lady Gangster," directed by Robert Florey.
$40K is taken from a bank during a violent bank robbery that included a shoot-out and police chase. The one poor sap that did not getaway is Dot (Emerson), who acted as a distraction so the robbers could enter the bank before it opened. The stylish and beautiful Dot tries to sweet talk herself out of trouble, but the cops and D.A. don't believe her. Enter the handsome newsman Ken (Frank Wilcox). He believes Dot and heralds her innocence on his radio show. After interviewing her, she lies to him, but he's a sap for a pretty face. Now free, Dot goes back to her gang which is headed by Carry (Roland Drew) and getaway driver Wilson (Gleason). The cops arrive and everyone disperses. Dot gets away with the entire $40K take, which she hides, and gets arrested again.
Now Dot is doing hard time in a women's pen. Carry and Wilson want the loot which they know Dot has hidden. Ken still believes there is goodness in Dot...sucker! In the joint, Dot befriends the sultry Myrtle (Julie Bishop) and must avoid the snitch Lucy (Ruth Ford). Catfight on the way? Of course! Now Dot is scheming to get out early on parole, collecting the stolen loot, and getting far away. To do this she keeps playing the drooling Ken, who still believes everything she says. Dot is visited by Carry who demands the money. Believing Ken betrayed her, which he did not, Dot goes forward with a scheme to play Ken and Carry and gang off on one another, getting parole with some convincing lies, collecting the loot after Carry and Ken wipe one another out, and fleeing town. Uh oh...not all is the way Dot assumes it is and a monkey wrench is thrown into her plan as she has an indication Ken loves her.
Shoot-outs! Dangerous women! Catfights! Thugs with guns! Dames that lie! Dames that get tied up, gagged, stripped, and humiliated. This is a vicious Film Noir film that has us pulling for the dame with the trim figure, seductive smile, and stylish get-up simply because she is a dame with a trim figure, seductive smile, and stylish get-up...never mind that she is a dangerous thug. See "Lady Gangster" and realize all pretty faces out there are...dangerous!
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