House Is Not a Home, A (1964)

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