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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Slightly Scarlet (1956)

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Red Hooks

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Slightly Scarlet on DVD

The French New Wave filmmakers adored Slightly Scarlet (1956, VCI Entertainment, $19.99), based on a James M. Cain novel. Payne stars again as a henchman for a shady gangster who tries to smear a politician's good name. On top of that, the politician is involved with a woman whose kleptomaniac sister has just been released from prison. Dwan uses his usual light touch but somehow keeps Cain's insidious tale intact and delivers a steely film noir, one of his best films.

Starring: John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Arlene Dahl, Kent Taylor, Ted de Corsia, Lance Fuller, Buddy Baer
Written by: Robert Blees, based on a novel by James M. Cain
Directed by: Allan Dwan
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 99 minutes
Date: November 26, 2002