A House Is Not a Home
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Russell Rouse
Shelley Winters
Robert Taylor
Cesar Romero
Ralph Taeger
Kaye Ballard
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Polish immigrant Polly Adler is taken to a dancehall by Bernie, the foreman of the sweatshop where she works. There, she meets Lorraine and Madge, two "fast" girls who give her tips on makeup and man-baiting. Later that evening Bernie rapes her, but her uncle, with whom she lives, refuses to believe it wasn't her fault and throws her out of his home. She moves into an apartment used as a front by racketeer Frank Costigan and innocently starts her career as a madam when Frank pays her for inviting her attractive girl friends to parties. As Polly becomes more successful, she moves into a plush apartment, which serves as both a bordello and an undercover meeting place for corrupt politicians, racketeers, and businessmen. Polly falls in love with Casey Booth, a musician whose career she boosts, but resolves not to see him because of her own career, of which he knows nothing. Polly is soon moved into an even plusher penthouse apartment on Park Avenue. When Casey forces Polly to see him and proposes marriage, Polly confesses her occupation. Casey walks out but later returns to say that her past is unimportant to him. Nevertheless, Polly sends him away. Meanwhile, Frank, who has become Lucky Luciano's triggerman, discovers that a shakedown of prostitutes is being conducted in Luciano's name and that a special state investigator is determined to prosecute Luciano for this. Investigating, Frank finds Luciano is innocent, and the responsible man is killed by his own brother. Later, while a party is in progress at Polly's, Casey calls Polly, making one more plea, but Polly, realizing that they could never live with her reputation, sends him out of her life forever. Sadly, she returns to the festivities, accepting her role as New York's most notorious procuress.
Director
Russell Rouse
Cast
Shelley Winters
Robert Taylor
Cesar Romero
Ralph Taeger
Kaye Ballard
Broderick Crawford
Mickey Shaughnessy
Lisa Seagram
Meri Welles
Jesse White
Connie Gilchrist
Constance Dane
Allyson Ames
Lewis Charles
Steve Peck
Michael Forest
Stanley Adams
Dick Reeves
Roger C. Carmel
J. Pat O'malley
Alice Reinheart
Ben Astar
Hayden Rorke
Benny Rubin
Tom D'andrea
Gee Gee Galligan
Alex Gerry
Edmon Ryan
George Casir
Charles Fredericks
Baynes Barron
Jerry James
Mike Ross
Larry Barton
Steve Carruthers
Billy Beck
June Gleason
Wynne Brown
John Indrisano
Max Power
Sandra Scott
Roxanne Arlen
Wilda Taylor
Amedee Chabot
Danica D'hondt
Leona Gage
Sandra Grant
Diane Libby
Patricia Manning
Inga Neilsen
Francine Pyne
Astrid Schultz
Patricia Thomas
Raquel Welch
Edy Williams
Crew
Lloyd Anderson
Maryce Bates
Charlsie Bryant
Frank Caffey
Don Christie
Sam Comer
Al Cuesta
Clarence Greene
Clarence Greene
Edith Head
Gene Hibbs
Dale Hutchinson
Joseph E. Levine
Harry M. Lindgren
Kyme Meade
William Mull
Hal Pereira
James Roach
Al Roelofs
Russell Rouse
Chester W. Schaeffer
Harold Stine
Joseph Weiss
Film Details
Technical Specs
Award Nominations
Best Costume Design
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1964
Released in United States 1964
