Tonight's Movie: The Damned Don't Cry (1950) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

One of my favorite Joan Crawford melodramas, THE DAMNED DON'T CRY (1950), is now available on a beautiful Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

It's worth mentioning right at the top of the review that this is an exquisite black and white print, from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative.

THE DAMNED DON'T CRY has echoes of Crawford's film from the previous year, FLAMINGO ROAD (1949), which also costarred David Brian. I consider both among Crawford's top work of the era.

Crawford plays Ethel Whitehead, an unhappily married -- and very poor -- woman who leaves her husband (Richard Egan) after the death of their child (Jimmy Moss). Ethel is determined to find a better life than the one she's got, so poor that getting her son a bicycle causes a huge row with her husband.

In a story which is also reminiscent of the classic Barbara Stanwyck pre-Code BABY FACE (1933), Ethel moves to the big city and latches on to a succession of men as steppingstones on her climb to the top.

Honest bookkeeper Marty (Kent Smith) wants to marry Ethel, but Ethel is more interested in the man she helps Marty land as a client, mob boss George Castleman (Brian).

Lorna becomes the married Castleman's mistress and with his funding transforms herself from Ethel Whitehead into "oil heiress" and social hostess "Lorna Hanson Forbes," accepted at the top echelons of society.

Ethel/Lorna comes to love George -- along with his money -- but the bloom wears off quickly when he asks her to head west and "ingratiate" herself with rival mobster Nick Prenta (Steve Cochran). She tries to get George to spell out just how far she's expected to go and doesn't hear the answer she's expecting. What's more, once she learns all there is to know about Prenta and his business dealings, George plans to kill him.

The disillusioned Lorna becomes attracted to Nick, who proposes marriage -- though she's dismayed that just like George, he considers killing off his rivals part of being a successful businessman. Being mixed up with mobsters isn't much fun.

Matters come to a head when both Marty and George arrive in the desert...

I first saw this film as part of a "Mid-Century California Noir" series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2012. It has some great Palm Springs location sequences, including scenes shot at Frank Sinatra's home, Twin Palms, which doubles as Cochran's house.

Everyone in the film is tops, starting with the compelling Crawford. We don't admire all of Ethel's decisions, but we understand them, and even when she cruelly dumps Marty we feel some sympathy for her, knowing her rough background.

I appreciated David Brian far more on this second viewing, having really liked him in FLAMINGO ROAD since first seeing this movie. He's excellent as a man who, like Ethel, has gone from rags to riches -- and he's scary given what he'll do to stay on top.

Cochran is excellent, making a big impression in his relatively brief screen time, and even the somewhat dull Kent Smith does a good job here as the man who sees his business ethics slip away along with his relationship with Ethel.

I also particularly appreciate Selena Royle as Ethel/Lorna's high society "sponsor," Patricia Longworth, who helps her present herself more tastefully and provides an entree into her social circles.

This film is a great example of studio craftsmanship, where every element combines to provide a highly entertaining movie.

THE DAMNED DON'T CRY runs 103 minutes. It was directed by Vincent Sherman and filmed by Ted McCord. The screenplay was by Harold Medford and Jerome Weidman from the Gertrude Walker story CASE HISTORY. An interesting bit of trivia is that the year after this film was released, Walker married actor Charles Winninger.

Extras on the Warner Archive Blu-ray disc consist of the trailer; an archival commentary track by by director Vincent Sherman, imported from the 2005 DVD release; a featurette, "The Crawford Formula: Real and Reel"; and a 1951 Screen Director's Playhouse performance starring Crawford and Frank Lovejoy, who appeared opposite Crawford that year in the film GOODBYE, MY FANCY (1951). I particularly appreciate when the Warner Archive includes radio productions, as the "alternate casting" can be fascinating.

THE DAMNED DON'T CRY is top Crawford. Both the movie and this lovely Blu-ray are recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the Amazon Warner Archive Collection Store, Movie Zyng, or from any online retailers were Blu-rays are sold.

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