A young archaeologist, maneuvered into an engagement he does not quite want, encounters a stunning blonde with a German accent and decides to kick over the traces, much to the surprise of anyone (except, maybe, the blonde). He becomes agitated when the young lady's colorful past starts to intrude itself on his comfortable existence, and is truly appalled when he has the true PORTRAIT OF A SINNER. Will our hero nonetheless benefit from his dance with his dark side, or will our heroine drag him into the mire of her turbulent world?
There is a lot of good in this little bit of Brit Noir, including a script that is a lot more adult than usual for 1959. Since the adult bits are handled with wit, it comes across as sophisticated (and funny) rather than coarse. William Bendix, as the vulgar fellow who may or may not be our femme fatale's employer, adds some unique art design, as well as quite a good performance, to the mix. Also featured is some really good repartee. The problem is that there really is not all that much going on here, other than the tale of a lucky young man who wants a little naughty with his luck, before he takes up his rightful place in society. As a result, you might find yourself just a shade disappointed at the end of it all, despite the obvious talent involved.
