Allotment Wives 1945 DVD - Kay Francis, Paul Kelly, Otto Kruger FILM NOIR

Description: Item Description WIDOW'S WINDFALLS... Respected society lady Sheila Seymour (Kay Francis) runs a canteen for servicemen during WW2, as well as a beauty parlor. On the surface she is sweet, charming, and personable. But behind closed doors, she is a ruthless crime boss and both of her businesses are a front for her real money-maker - marrying off women to servicemen to then collect their war benefits. Her women are marrying several men at a time. When Peter Martin (Paul Kelly) finds that his good friend has killed himself due to realizing his new bride already has several husbands, he goes undercover to investigate. Into the fray comes Gladys Smith (Gertrude Michael), who recognizes Sheila as an old partner in crime and is looking for an avenue to horn in on Seymour's racket. She finds it in a scheme of blackmail involving Connie (Teala Loring), who is Sheila's rebellious daughter who has been tucked away in an exclusive girl's school. Shelia becomes increasingly ruthless and cold-blooded as the walls close in and everything she has built is threatened. It's the terrific performance of Kay Francis in one of her last films surrounded by a sensational supporting cast which makes this above average and a bit of a cult classic. This is a very interesting picture that is almost a feminist film way ahead of it's time: the smartest and toughest characters are all women. Francis is ruthless and cold-blooded throughout and strongarms several male crime-bosses here. In 1945, with offers dwindling, Francis made a last gallant attempt at a film comeback by forming her own producing company with Jeffrey Bernerd. Francis was desperate and had a ruthless penny-pinching approach which included looking out for low budget stories, and with "Allotment Wives," even rewriting the script. The picture had a breakneck 10 day shooting schedule with the main objective being to make money. Many film buffs consider this the best of Kay Francis' "Monogram Trilogy." It's a good companion piece for MILDRED PIERCE (also 1945) -- only ALLOTMENT WIVES has a harder edge -- Kay Francis is tougher, in a more complex role. She looks slim and stylish here as she leads a crime syndicate while fronting with a chic salon. The film is full of surprises and suspense. Excellent support comes from Teala Loring as Kay's troubled daughter who is kept from harms way at a private girls school. Their scenes together have a genuine feeling that allows sympathy for their situation and struggle. Kay's final scene on the staircase is a classic and her exit line is a memorable one. Gertrude Michael does a fine job as Kay's long lost friend out to do her no good. Her character throws more sympathy Kay's way even though Kay herself has a cold-blooded side in a losing "man's" game. REGION 0 - WILL PLAY WORLDWIDE INTERACTIVE MENUS / SCENE SELECTION 1945 / BLACK & WHITE / 4:3 Ratio / ENGLISH / 78 MIN DVD ART WITH INSERT AS SHOWN. A GREAT COLLECTOR'S ITEM - AND A GREAT GIFT FOR ANY FAN OF CLASSIC FILMS! PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCTION HAS NEVER BEEN AVAILABLE ON DVD AND IS NOT AVAILABLE IN STORES. This is not an "official" release or copy thereof. All media came from public domain sources. This is a good-quality copy with interactive menus and packaging designed by myself. This DVD is boxed exactly as pictured above, and is brand new and factory shrink-wrapped. All screenshots are taken directly from the DVD. All files used in the production of this DVD are not in violation of copyright laws or Ebay guidelines. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DVD is professionally assembled & shipped to you! Any defective disks happily replaced! Please allow 3 business days for shipment to be sent out. Orders within the United States will usually arrive within one week of purchase but I have seen it take up to 10-15 days during Christmas time. International orders can sometimes take up to 14 to 21 business days. If you are unhappy for any reason, please contact me before posting negative feedback! I have a 100% satisfaction policy and will gladly iron out problems. I love these neglected films and have spent years tracking down quality copies! I aim to give these films the loving attention they deserve, with quality packaging and interactive menus. I'm always on the hunt for rare & neglected gems so check back often! I'm happy to answer any and all questions you may have! Just drop me a line!

Price: 12 USD

Location: Sparks, Nevada

End Time: 2024-08-01T19:15:00.000Z

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