Party Girl

Party Girl starts out in a Chicago club sometime after the repeal of prohibition, with a big dance number. It looks as if it might be primarily a musical in luscious color, but the club is owned by a crime boss (Lee J Cobb), and one of the dancers (Cyd Charisse) gets involved with the lawyer (Robert Taylor) who is the legal mastermind behind the organization. Already a lieutenant is the part played by John Ireland, and later there is a merger with another organization led by youthful and psychotic Corey Allen. The wardrobe department really came through amidst an ultra-rich decor. Yet in the midst of all this splendor a fairly intriguing drama is more or less intelligently played out. Taylor, who walks with a cane, maybe has never been better, as he tries to get out of the mob, but has ties from his youth with Cobb. John Ireland stands out as well, but just about the entire cast is excellent.