Film Noir Friday: Lady Gangster [1942]

lady gangster

Welcome! The lobby of the Deranged L.A. Crimes theater is open. Grab a bucket of popcorn, some Milk Duds and a Coke and find a seat.

Tonight’s feature is LADY GANGSTER, starring Faye Emerson, Julie Bishop, Frank Wilcox and Jackie Gleason. LADY GANGSTER is a remake of LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT [1933] which is one of my favorite women in prison films. Both films are based on a play by Dorothy Mackaye who was an actress, writer, and former felon. She did time in San Quentin for her part in the beating death of her husband by her boyfriend. I covered the case in THE HOLLYWOOD TRIANGLE.

Enjoy the movie!

TCM says:

Dot Burton, an aspiring actress, helps a gang of bank robbers to hold up a bank. The men escape but the police are suspicious of Dot’s actions and arrest her. District Attorney Lewis Sinton asks Dot to turn state’s evidence, but she continues to plead her innocence. Radio broadcaster Kenneth Phillips sees a newspaper article about Dot’s case and broadcasts a statement lambasting the district attorney for arresting her while the real criminals go free. Sinton responds by suggesting that Phillips help in the investigation. He willingly agrees and begins by questioning Dot. Face to face, Phillips and Dot realize they know each other from childhood and Phillips arranges to have Dot released into his custody. Although Dot intends to go straight, when she overhears the other members of the gang plan to divide up her share of the stolen money, she hides the money from them.

https://youtu.be/k8CBtyDdfbQ