description The Damned Don't Cry Overview
The Damned Don't Cry is a 1950 American crime drama directed by Vincent Sherman and released by Warner Bros. Joan Crawford plays an ambitious woman who leaves an impoverished life and advances through a criminal organization, adopting a more sophisticated identity as her power and social position grow. The film uses her transformation and relationships with rival gangsters to examine class aspiration, exploitation, and the personal cost of organized crime.
help The Damned Don't Cry FAQ
What happens to Ethel Whitehead in The Damned Don't Cry?
Joan Crawford plays Ethel Whitehead, a woman who leaves her poor working-class life after her young son's death and reinvents herself as Lorna Hansen Forbes. Her climb takes her from modeling and wealthy clients into the orbit of crime boss George Castleman and his syndicate. [AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26285-THE-DAMNED-DONT-CRY)
Who plays George Castleman and Martin Blackford?
David Brian plays crime boss George Castleman, while Kent Smith plays the honest accountant Martin Blackford. Steve Cochran also appears as Castleman's associate Nick Prenta in the 1950 Warner Bros. film. [AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26285-THE-DAMNED-DONT-CRY)
Is The Damned Don't Cry based on Bugsy Siegel and Virginia Hill?
It is not a direct biography, but Gertrude Walker's story Case History was loosely inspired by the relationship between gangster Bugsy Siegel and Virginia Hill. Ethel Whitehead remains a fictionalized character within that organized-crime story. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_Don%27t_Cry)
Is The Damned Don't Cry a black-and-white film, and how long is it?
Yes, it is a black-and-white film with a reported runtime of 103 minutes, released in 1950. It was the first of three films Vincent Sherman directed with Joan Crawford, followed by Harriet Craig and Goodbye, My Fancy. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Damned_Don%27t_Cry)
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
