Flamingo Road main backdrop
Flamingo Road main poster

Flamingo Road

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7.0/10 • 56

1949-04-301h 34m

DramaRomance

A wrong girl for the right side of the tracks.

A stranded carnival dancer takes on a corrupt political boss when she marries into small-town society.

Directors
Michael Curtiz
Editors
Folmar Blangsted

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Joan Crawford

    Joan Crawford

    Lane Bellamy

  2. Zachary Scott

    Zachary Scott

    Fielding Carlisle

  3. Sydney Greenstreet

    Sydney Greenstreet

    Sheriff Titus Semple

  4. David Brian

    David Brian

    Dan Reynolds

  5. Gladys George

    Gladys George

    Lute Mae Sanders

  6. Virginia Huston

    Virginia Huston

    Annabelle Weldon

  7. Fred Clark

    Fred Clark

    Doc Waterson

  8. Gertrude Michael

    Gertrude Michael

    Millie

  9. Alice White

    Alice White

    Gracie

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jun 14, 2015

7/10

Ya can't go wrong in this town if you say Yep to the right people and Nope to the rest. Flamingo Road is directed by Michael Curtiz and adapted to screenplay by Robert Wilder from his own play of the same name (with Sally Wilder). It stars Joan Crawford, Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott, David Bryan and Gladys George. Music is by Max Steiner and cinematography by Ted D. McCord. When circumstance sees Lane Bellamy (Crawford) stuck in Bolden City, she quickly finds herself embroiled in a love affair and involved in a war with political tyrant Sheriff Titus Semple (Greenstreet). The Moody kind always cause trouble. Southern Gothic - cum - politico melodrama with noirish tints, Flamingo Road gets above average due to high tech credits and a superbly nasty turn from Greenstreet. Essentially the pic is about a girl from the other side of the tracks making her way up the social ladder, but she has to lock horns with a nasty piece of work and battle with affairs of the heart. Flamingo - Affluent - Road! It's strong on narrative terms, the screenplay neatly blending the greed of political posers with almost perverse social wiles. Curtiz (Mildred Pierce/The Unsuspected) and McCord (Johnny Belinda/The Breaking Point) keep it brisk and atmospherically moody, while the impressive Greenstreet - all sweaty, ambiguous and devilish, is surrounded by a more than competent cast of supporting players. What of Crawford? Wisely "requesting" that Curtiz be given the director's job, she's compelling and classically committed to the role. It's true to say she is too old for the character, something which her fans are known to hate reading, while both the actors playing her love interests are almost 10 years her junior - which is a bit of a reality stretch for the era. However, such is her acting ability, she gets you on side quickly, with the makers shooting her in soft focus and the writer giving her good work to use off of the page. A strange movie in some ways, but intriguing and sharp and it's never dull. While the quality on show from both sides of the camera is most pleasing. 7/10

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$1,528,000.00
Revenue
$2,896,000.00
Keywords
belly dancing