I had the chance to catch a movie I had not seen with Joan Crawford, “The Damned Don’t Cry” (1950) The movie done right after she did “Mildred Pierce,” is pretty much similar, only this time Mildred is a little tougher, or as I put it, on steroids. Joan plays Ethel Whitehead, a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage, and in a poverty stricken state of mind. Although she is unhappy, she sticks it out for the sake of her son. When her little boy is killed in an auto accident, she garners up enough courage to walk away from her miserable existence. Ethel wants more from life, and she sets out to find the pot of gold in New York City. She gets a job at a cigar shop where she meets a salesman who convinces her to become a dress model. The job, although vague in the film, is more than just modeling. Each time Ethel went out with one of the clients, she got money. I assume the money was not just merely given to her, she had to do something to earn it. It appeared that Ethel was now in the prostitution business. The more Ethel gave in to sin, the harder she became. It didn’t matter that she had to participate in vice to make money. She saw this as her ticket out of poverty. She much rather be doing this, then starve for the rest of her days.
Ethel becomes acquainted with the dress company’s accountant, Martin Blackford played by, Kent Smith. Martin is an unassuming, quiet man who no doubt was shocked that a beautiful woman such as Ethel would give him a second glance. I get the impression that Ethel thought the accountant made lots of money, and invites him for dinner at the gambling joint she frequents with her, ahem, clients. Much to her surprise, the accountant is broke, and openly tells her so when Ethel orders her very expensive dinner. But not to worry, Martin is introduced to Grady, the gambling joint’s owner, who needs some financial advice. Martin offers his expertise and is immediately offered a well paying job at Grady’s. Martin wins the affection and respect of Grady who now refers him to the big hancho of the operation, George Castleman, played superbly by David Brian. Martin and Ethel set out to meet Castleman, and it is this night that will seal their fate. In this meeting, Castleman reveals the real nature of the business. The business is involved in criminal activity, and they need someone who can handle the financial end of it. You know hide the money from Uncle Sam, etc. Martin isn’t happy with this, but money hungry Ethel, convinces him to forget that and and grab the opportunity by the throat. At this point, Martin would do anything for the fem fatale, and he did.
Ethel throws Martin under the bus, and begins a love affair with Castleman. She becomes a “kept” woman. But even this doesn’t bother her. She learns manners, diction, and all the genteel ways while in Paris for a year. But inside Ethel was still the uneducated, poor girl who just wanted a piece of the pie no matter the cost. She lived a fantasy for a while until Castleman asks her to spy on one of his representatives in the West coast, Nick Prenta, played by hottie, Steve Cochran. Ethel realizes that married Castleman doesn’t really love her. Why do women fall for this? She feels dirty and used but does whatever Castleman asks. After all, Castleman is her meal ticket. She’ll never go back to being poor. Ethel spies on Nick, but ends up falling in love with him, and doesn’t provide information for Castleman. But Castleman is on to Ethel, and beats her, and makes her lure her lover to her home so that he can wipe him out. Ethel does, and Nick is killed.
Ethel decides to run back home to her poor parents. She needs to feel grounded again, and so returns to her roots. She knows she is next on Castleman’s list and so she waits. It is Martin, who warns her of Castleman’s intention and even after being dissed by Ethel, wants to save her life. They plan an escape, but Castleman arrives before they do. What ensues is the only way Ethel will realize the error of her ways.
The movie warns us of the “grass is greener,” syndrome. Yes, Ethel was unhappy, and maybe she should have left her husband, but not all that glitters is gold. Many seek happiness in all the wrong places, and Ethel surely did. Sometimes happiness has nothing to do with money.
