Slick lawyer Thomas Farrell has made a career of defending mobsters in trials. It's not until he meets a lovely showgirl at a mob party that he realizes that there's more to life than winning trials. Farrell tries to quit the racket, but mob boss Rico Angelo threatens to hurt the showgirl if Farrell leaves him.
As in all Ray's films, ideas and emotions are transformed into stunning visuals.
– ,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
rotten:
Unfortunately, the picture's plot (good girl helps bad guy go straight) fits the mood like a concrete overshoe, and the more than generous serving of cheesecake is pretty soggy stuff.
– ,
TIME Magazine,
23 Oct 2007
rotten:
There is little that is novel or exciting about this Party Girl, despite her trappings or the occasional gunplay that surrounds her.
– A.H. Weiler,
New York Times,
25 Mar 2006
fresh:
Taylor and Charisse have never been better, and rarely has Ray's theme of two flawed individuals trying to strike a symmetrical balance achieved a more beautiful and convulsive expression.