Based on her best-selling autobiography about her life in the Roaring Twenties as the legendary Madam of New York City’s plushest bordello, the movie follows the life of Polly Adler (Shelley Winters) from an immigrant worker to friend and confidante of underworld bigwigs, social leaders, businessmen, politicians, writers, and artists.
Robert Taylor plays Polly’s mentor and protector, an underworld character called Frank Costigan, while Broderick Crawford is amusing as a big politician named Harrigan who considers Polly’s house a home away from home. Mickey Shaughnessy appears as a police sergeant who always has his hand out for protection money.
Ralph Taeger makes the most of his role as Polly’s younger lover, Casey Booth, the vocalist with a jazz band.
Very little effort is made to recapture the flavour of the 1920s, and all the harlots’ hairdos are styled 1964-style.
A House Is Not A Home features the big-screen debut of Raquel Welch (pictured).
Polly Adler
Shelley Winters Frank Costigan
Robert Taylor Lucky Luciano
Cesar Romero Casey Booth
Ralph Taeger Sidonia
Kaye Ballard Harrigan
Broderick Crawford Police Sergeant Riordan
Mickey Shaughnessy Madge
Lisa Seagram Lorraine
Meri Welles Rafferty
Jesse White Hattie Miller
Connie Gilchrist Laura
Constance Dane Gwen
Allyson Ames Angelo
Lewis Charles Vince
Steve Peck Bernie Watson
Michael Forest Harry
Stanley Adams Pete Snyder
Richard Reeves Dixie Keeler
Roger C. Carmel Muldoon
J. Pat O’Malley Sarah Ludwig
Alice Reinheart Max Ludwig
Ben Astar Bill Cameron
Hayden Rorke Happy Charlie
Benny Rubin Gabe
Tom D’Andrea Dorothy
Gee Gee Galligan Doctor
Alex Gerry Sam
Edmon Ryan Dr Saunders
George Cisar Bert
Charles Fredericks Matt
Baynes Barron Tim
Jerry James Polly’s Girls
Danica D’Hondt
Leona Gage
Sandra Grant
Diane Libby
Patricia Manning
Inga Neilsen
Francine Pyne
Astrid Schultz
Patricia Thomas
Raquel Welch
Edy Williams
Astrid De Brea
Annabelle Thiele
Ava Janey
Director
Russell Rouse
Related Posts
House in Marsh Road, The (1960) David Linton (Tony Wright) is supposed to be writing a novel - but all he ever produces is the occasional…
Last Man on Earth, The (1964) When a wind-blown virus devastates life on Earth, millions of the population die and the remainder become vampires living in…
Home Alone (1990) This story of a young boy outwitting a duo of bungling burglars with an intricate series of booby traps turned…
Hand, The (1981) Oliver Stone directs Michael Caine in this hybrid horror that combines elements of The Beast with Five Fingers and The…
Unsinkable Molly Brown, The (1964) This fictionalised account of the life of Margaret 'Molly' Brown was adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name,…
Hush Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) Following the success of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Bette Davis returned to the screen in another shock…
Happy Hooker, The (1975) This non-pornographic film about a pornographic subject was based on Xaviera Hollander's autobiography about her life as a prostitute. Dutch…
Ladies Who Do (1964) Charwoman Mrs Cragg (Peggy Mount) retrieves a discarded cigar from the wastepaper basket of city tycoon James Ryder (Harry H…
Polly Adler
Madge
