Joan Crawford always could portray the ambitious, strong-willed character really well - and she does it here too. Living an hand-to-mouth existence with her husband and young son, tragedy befalls her and she ("Ethel/Lorna") determines to start a new life. Initially flogging cigars in an hotel, but soon her beauty helps her meet new, and increasingly influential, wealthy, friends. When she meets "Marty" (Kent Smith), a small time accountant whom she introduces to her restaurant owning pal "Grady" (Hugh Sanders), this honest fellow starts to attract attention of his own, the coat-tails of whom she is happy to travel along on, too. Before long, both are embroiled in a perilous nationwide gaming racket headed by her latest beau "George" (David Brian). When he gets suspicious of one of his underlings "Nick" (Steve Cochran), she is despatched to use her wiles on him - only, that doesn't quite go according to plan... You kind of feel sorry for poor old "Marty" - infatuated by Crawford, but not on her radar as she seeks wealth and power, inherently drawn to the wrong 'uns. The ending is a bit rushed, but the rest of it takes it's time to demonstrate this women's ability to twist men around her little finger. The pace is good, the male performances maybe just a bit stereotyped - but it's still a great opportunity for the star to be exactly that.
To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.
When a car bomb explodes on the American side of the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican drug enforcement agent Miguel Vargas begins his investigation, along with American police captain Hank Quinlan. When Vargas begins to suspect that Quinlan and his shady partner, Menzies, are planting evidence to frame an innocent man, his investigations into their possible corruption quickly put himself and his new bride, Susie, in jeopardy.
A rich woman and a calculating insurance agent plot to kill her unsuspecting husband after he signs a double indemnity policy.
A self-assured businessman murders his employer, the husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.
Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a fresh start. Unfortunately, Tony has set his sights upon Angela - and so has an undercover FBI agent looking to use her to bust Tony.
In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
A romantic drifter gets caught between a corrupt tycoon and his voluptuous wife.
A bank employee uses a loophole in Argentine law to concoct the perfect crime, planning to reap the rewards of his embezzlement after serving six years in prison…