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Drama Cult Classic

Glamour, jealousy, and gunplay in the nightlife shadows of 1950s New York.

PLAYGIRL

You call her a 'Playgirl'...but this girl plays for keeps!

1954 · 1h 25m · NR · Drama / Film-Noir · IMDB TMDB

A naive Nebraska girl dreams of success in New York where she immerses herself in the glitzy glamorous life of the nightlife and the nightclubs frequented by rich playboys but murder and manipulative people eventually burst her bubble.

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Vault Note

Always double-check your showgirl friends before trusting a publisher with a shady marriage.

Programmer's Pick

Shelley Winters leads the charge in this Joseph Pevney noir, where the glitz of New York nightlife collides with bitter jealousy and a mess of murder plots. If a nightclub love triangle gone wrong and a bullet-riddled misunderstanding sound like your cup of cabaret, Playgirl delivers the goods.

— SassyFlix Programmer
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Quick Answer
What is Playgirl about?

Playgirl is a 1954 American drama and film-noir film directed by Joseph Pevney about a naive Nebraska girl whose dreams of New York glamour take a dark turn amid nightclub intrigue and betrayal.

Details & Specs
Director
Joseph Pevney
Writers
Robert Blees, Ray Buffum
Release
1954
Runtime
1h 25m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Drama, Film-Noir

Synopsis

Nightclub singer Fran Davis is out to educate her out-of-town friend Phyllis Matthews on the ins-and-outs of life in the Big City. But, par for the course in this Joseph Pevney potboiler, publisher Mike Marsh, Fran's lover and unhappy married man to begin with, falls in love with Phyllis. There is a misunderstanding of the situation by the two girls. The girls quarrel, Marsh is shot, Fran hits the skids and she and Phyllis, to say the least, are on the outs. Then Fran learns that Phyllis is about to be used unwittingly as a decoy in a murder. Fran rides to her friend's rescue.

Why Cult

Noir Nightlife

The film revels in the glamorous and treacherous after-hours world of New York nightclubs, complete with showgirls, playboys, and shadowy corners.

Shelley Winters Showcase

Watch Shelley Winters as Fran, a tough nightclub singer navigating jealousy, betrayal, and a gun-toting rescue mission.

Friendship and Betrayal

A rivalry between friends escalates to quarrels, heartbreak, and an urgent fight to prevent murder—where loyalty gets tested under neon lights.

Potboiler Plot Twists

Expect misunderstandings, unexpected love triangles, and a classic noir rescue as the story careens toward its bullet-riddled climax.

Cast & Crew

View all →
Director: Joseph Pevney Writers: Robert Blees +1 more
Shelley Winters Shelley Winters Fran Barry Sullivan Barry Sullivan Mike Marsh Colleen Miller Colleen Miller Phyllis Matthews Richard Long Richard Long Barron Courtney Gregg Palmer Gregg Palmer Tom Burton Kent Taylor Kent Taylor Ted Andrews Jacqueline deWit Jacqueline deWit Greta Marsh Dave Barry Dave Barry Jonathan Philip Van Zandt Philip Van Zandt Lew Martel James McCallion James McCallion Paul Paul Richards Paul Richards Wilbur Helen Beverly Helen Beverly Anne Myrna Hansen Myrna Hansen Linda Mara Corday Mara Corday Pam

Scene Gallery

Trailers & Clips

Questions from the Vault

What is Playgirl about? +

Playgirl is a 1954 American drama and film-noir film directed by Joseph Pevney about a naive Nebraska girl whose dreams of New York glamour take a dark turn amid nightclub intrigue and betrayal.

When was Playgirl released? +

Playgirl was released in 1954.

Who directed Playgirl? +

Joseph Pevney directed Playgirl.

How long is Playgirl? +

Playgirl has a runtime of 85 minutes.

What genre is Playgirl? +

Playgirl is a drama and film-noir.

Themes & Keywords