In 1950s Hollywood, dreams of stardom take a sordid detour through the city's seedy underbelly.
THE FLESH MERCHANT
Blasts the lid off an infamous Hollywood vice racket!
Searching for stardom in Hollywood, a woman (Joy Reynolds) works at a seedy club with her sister.
From the days when Hollywood’s dark side was only hinted at—sometimes with a very sheer curtain.
Sexploitation meets Hollywood melodrama as Joy Reynolds trades small-town innocence for the garish promises of Tinseltown—and lands in a gritty whirl of cheesecake photo shoots, skimpy nightgowns, and predatory pimps. If you like your 1950s scandal with a side of implied nudity and brothel intrigue, this B-movie digs right in.
— SassyFlix Programmer
The Flesh Merchant is a 1956 American drama film directed by W. Merle Connell about a young woman who visits her sister in Hollywood, only to be tricked by pimps into working at a brothel.
- Director
- W. Merle Connell
- Writers
- Jay M. Kude, Peter Perry Jr.
- Release
- 1956
- Runtime
- 1h
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Drama
- Also Known As
- The Wild and Wicked
Synopsis
Why Cult
See the seamy side of 1950s Los Angeles, where stardom dreams collide with exploitation and the criminal world.
A parade of implied female nudity, scantily clad women, and cheesecake photo shoots keeps the exploitation dial turned up.
The story centers on the relationship between two sisters, as one tries to protect the other from Hollywood’s predatory traps.
At just 60 minutes, this brisk slice of mid-century melodrama packs in brothels, police chases, and a Cadillac convertible.
Cast & Crew
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Trailers & Clips
Questions from the Vault
What is The Flesh Merchant about? +
The Flesh Merchant follows a young woman who travels to Hollywood to visit her sister, only to be manipulated by pimps into working at a brothel.
When was The Flesh Merchant released? +
The Flesh Merchant was released in 1956.
Who directed The Flesh Merchant? +
The Flesh Merchant was directed by W. Merle Connell.
How long is The Flesh Merchant? +
The Flesh Merchant has a runtime of 60 minutes.
What genre is The Flesh Merchant? +
The Flesh Merchant is a drama film.
Where can I watch The Flesh Merchant? +
The Flesh Merchant is available to stream on SassyFlix.