Slightly Scarlet

1956

Slightly Scarlet

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Tomatometer
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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

32%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 117

Slightly Scarlet Photos

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Movie Info

Slightly Scarlet, adapted from James M. Cain's novel, Love's Lovely Counterfeit, is a slight, though well-crafted mystery. Shot in Technicolor, the film combines color sequences with a moody use of dark shadows to create a spectacular, visually exciting film, though somewhat short on character and action. Ben (John Payne), works for criminal boss Sol Caspar (Ted de Corsia) and is in love with June (Rhonda Fleming), Sol's secretary. Dorothy (Arlene Dahl) is June's sister and becomes romantically involved with Ben also. The lightweight story is predictable in its outcome but is saved by a good performance by Arlene Dahl as June's amoral, neurotic and completely unpredictable sister who is unscrupulous in her pursuit of her sister's lover. Slightly Scarlet, while technically brilliant, is a mediocre, predictable crime melodrama.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Allan Dwan
Written By:

Robert Blees
In Theaters:

Feb 29, 1956 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Apr 5, 2005
Runtime:

99 minutes
Studio:

VCI

Cast

Rhonda Fleming
as June Lyons

Arlene Dahl
as Dorothy Lyons

Ted de Corsia
as Sol Caspar

Kent Taylor
as Frank Jansen

Lance Fuller
as Gauss

Frank Gerstle
as Dave Dietz

Buddy Baer
as Lenhardt

George E. Stone
as Roos

Ellen Corby
as Martha

Roy Gordon
as Norman Marlowe

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Critic Reviews for Slightly Scarlet

All Critics (2) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (1)

Film noir thriller loaded with creativity, sharp use of color.

Aug 1, 2013 | Full Review…

Michael E. Grost
Classic Film and Television
A minor film noir.

Apr 23, 2003 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for Slightly Scarlet

Apr 09, 2010

Florid potboiler in lurid technicolor. The girls look amazing and are dressed in beautiful dresses that it's somewhat hard to believe Rhonda could afford on her salary as a secretary but then her house is palatial and she has a live in maid so perhaps reality wasn't what they were going for. Arlene Dahl takes her part as a worthless tramp and runs with it. A fun ride if you're a fan of high gloss melodrama.

jay n Super Reviewer