The Lady in Red

There is a lot here to like. First the film captures the 1930s time period way beyond expectations. The running board cars, flapper dresses, speak easies, tommy guns, are all well displayed. The nudity is integrated into the story, and does not appear gratuitous as in so many similar grind house movies. The who's who of character actors is impressive with Dick Miller, and Nancy Parsons memorable. Pamela Sue Martin carries the film, and her lively performance is necessary because the pacing bogs down several times, and makes the movie seem longer than it actually is. More than once I thought the credits would roll, only to have the story continue. - MERK

THE LADY IN RED is a fun and frenetic American crime film that explores the career of gangster John Dillinger through the eyes of his moll, the titular character as played by Pamela Sue Martin. This is an unashamed B-movie which makes up in action and violent incident what it lacks in budget and originality. A tapestry of ne'er-do-well characters is explored with an emphasis on wrongdoing and sudden bursts of violence which keep the viewer on their toes. Sex and nudity are mixed in with the violence to give this film an exploitation feel, while there are great, if minor roles for familiar faces like Dick Miller and Christopher Lloyd. Hardly a classic, but certainly entertaining.

Polly Franklin (Pamela Sue Martin) is an innocent farm girl obsessed with 42nd Street. She gets caught up with the Dillinger gang's bank robbery. She gets a red dress from a reporter and loses her virginity to him. Her father beats her and she runs away. She is befriended by Rose at a sweatshop but her life descends into prison and forced into prostitution by the ruthless warden. It's produced by the Roger Corman family. It's a bit rambling. Pamela Sue Martin used to be a star in the 70s and 80s. I missed most of that since I didn't watch Dynasty. I don't really see the range although she has some charisma. The biggest issue is that this story is simply a series of incidents. Some parts are less compelling than others. This could have been an interesting prison movie but that part is pretty quick. The sweatshop confused me a bit. This needs some better directing.

Great watch Small shots and the unknown subtley with the signature style from the 70's is completely gone in movies today. Someone's gotta start makin' retro throwback modern 70's movies...with all the cgi crap we have now just imagine how priceless they could make em now!

If they had called it "The life of a Gun Moll", nobody probably would have gone to see it. So they went with the Dillinger angle, but forget it this is Pamela Sue's film. If you ever wondered how "good little" girls end up being window dressing for some of the most notorious gangsters that ever lived, this film gives a good look at her rebellion against her strict religious up bringing and her descent into crime and prostitution. Pamela Sue is so cute, you have a hard time believing she is a hardened criminal, but she just about pulls it off.