Biopic of notorious New York City Madam Polly Adler, set during the Roaring Twenties.Biopic of notorious New York City Madam Polly Adler, set during the Roaring Twenties.Biopic of notorious New York City Madam Polly Adler, set during the Roaring Twenties.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTheatrical movie debut of Raquel Welch (Call Girl).
- GoofsAlthough the film takes place between the 1910s and the 1930s, all of the costumes are hairstyles are contemporary to 1964.
- Quotes
Casey Booth: I can't tell you how many times I started to come back to New York. I just couldn't forget you. Polly, I can't fight it forever. Tonight I sat and waited for you to come in nervous as a school kid on his first date, not knowing what you'd say when you saw me. Polly, that night that I acted like such a heel you must have known it was because I loved you.
Polly Adler: I loved you too, Casey.
Casey Booth: I still hate what you stand for. I still despise what you're doing. But I'm still in love with you and there is nothing I can do about it. Polly, marry me.
Polly Adler: Oh, Casey. Only you and your Never Never Land could believe such a thing was possible. People just won't let it happen, Casey. They would never let you forget that you're married to madam Polly Adler.
Casey Booth: We'll go some place where nobody knows us. Nobody to point fingers at us. Nobody to call names.
Polly Adler: Oh, Casey. I just don't know.
Casey Booth: Look, Polly I've come back. I came back because I love you. Isn't that enough?
Polly Adler: Oh, Casey. Don't you think I want to believe it... that I want to think it so? But I just don't know. I'm confused... and afraid.
Casey Booth: We've got one life time. One life time. And there's not that much happiness to throw ours away.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Flintstones: A Haunted House Is Not a Home (1964)
- SoundtracksA House Is Not a Home
Sung by Brook Benton
By Hal David and Burt Bacharach
Ms. Benton's Arrangement by Alan Lorber
When the film begins, Polly (Shelly Winters) is a poor, struggling nice girl in 1930s Chicago. However, when she is raped, she is tossed out of her house and is forced to find a place to live. Frank (Taylor) offers to share an apartment with her. However, over time she slowly begins to help Frank by throwing parties for him and his bootlegger associates...and soon these become more regular and Polly finds herself a madame! She likes the work and doesn't need to sleep with anyone. Not surprisingly, complications arise and the glamorous life of a madame isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Through the course of the film, it alternates between drama, melodrama, sleazy exploitation movie as well as a comedy...and the way the film changes so rapidly is unconvincing and weird. Sadly, some of the funniest scenes are supposed to be poignant--such as the smack- addicted prostitute as well as the New Years celebration. Interspersed throughout the film is some incredibly preachy narration by Polly....again, meant to be poignant but eliciting laughter instead! Awkward and uncomfortable to say the least...as well as about as subtle as a board upside the viewer's head!! It's loud, over-the- top and utterly ridiculous trash...much like you'd see in "Valley of the Dolls". How this film isn't more infamous, I have no idea...but it's really bad and you have to see it to believe it! Entertaining garbage and nothing more.
- planktonrules
- Dec 24, 2016
- Permalink
- How long is A House Is Not a Home?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Madame P. und ihre Mädchen
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1