Lesley Ann Warren is an absolute hoot in the first part of this TV version of Harold Robbins' novel, a different kind of Cinderella story where she's being slipped something that is not quite a slipper. She's a good girl, the devoted daughter to the ailing Barbara Barrie who is dying of Tuberculosis, abused by a lecherous stepfather (Albert Salmi) and eventually assaulting him, ending up in reform school. Marc Singer is her rather shady rich lover whose father (Michael Constantine) hates Warren and tries to assault her which results in Singer assaulting him. Major hate issues puts this in the not quite family hour, and this is just part one of three!
Gravely voiced Polly Bergen is in the same profession of madam Polly Adler (Hello, Polly!) here, as campy as Agnes Moorehead was as Jane Russell's madam in "The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown", and living in the same lavish surroundings. This is loaded with campy insinuations, and that makes the violent elements which come out of the blue ironic rather than shocking. The physical detail is stunning, showing Manhattan during the mid to late 30's in all its squalor and depression era art deco glory. David Dukes gets set up for bigger stories as a loving police officer longing for Warren from the side. Jack Weston is the dance hall proprietor, playing the role exactly like Stubby Kaye in "Sweet Charity". John Saxon is another one of the sleazy men she encounters. A ton of campy fun!
Gravely voiced Polly Bergen is in the same profession of madam Polly Adler (Hello, Polly!) here, as campy as Agnes Moorehead was as Jane Russell's madam in "The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown", and living in the same lavish surroundings. This is loaded with campy insinuations, and that makes the violent elements which come out of the blue ironic rather than shocking. The physical detail is stunning, showing Manhattan during the mid to late 30's in all its squalor and depression era art deco glory. David Dukes gets set up for bigger stories as a loving police officer longing for Warren from the side. Jack Weston is the dance hall proprietor, playing the role exactly like Stubby Kaye in "Sweet Charity". John Saxon is another one of the sleazy men she encounters. A ton of campy fun!