''The Company She Keeps'' is a 1951 drama film starring

Lizabeth Scott Lizabeth Virginia Scott (born Emma Matzo; September 29, 1921 – January 31, 2015) was an American actress, singer and model for the Walter Thornton Model Agency, known for her "smoky voice" and being "the most beautiful face of film noir durin ...

Jane Greer Jane Greer (born Bettejane Greer; September 9, 1924 – August 24, 2001) was an American film and television actress best known for her role as ''femme fatale'' Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir '' Out of the Past''. In 2009, ''The Guardian'' ...

and

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevill ...

. The film was directed by John Cromwell, whose film the previous year, '' Caged'', also concerned a woman sent to prison. It marked

Jeff Bridges Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. Bridges comes from a prominent ac ...

' film debut.

Plot

Released from prison after serving two years on a check-forging charge, Mildred Lynch changes her name to Diane Stuart and moves to Los Angeles. Parole officer Joan Willburn finds her a job at a hospital. Diane repays her by stealing Joan's boyfriend, Larry Collins, after he comes to the hospital to visit a patient. Diane hides the relationship from Joan and hides her past from Larry. Once she finally finds out, Joan graciously accepts the new relationship but warns Diane that to get married, she must first seek approval from the parole board, which will be under a legal obligation to contact Larry. Despite all the help Joan has been, Diane accuses her of trying to sabotage her romance and also her parole, after Diane is arrested for a drug theft at the hospital for which ex-convict Tilly Thompson is responsible. She runs away until Larry lets her know that, thanks to Joan, the charges have been dismissed.

Cast

as Joan *

as Diane *

as Larry * Fay Baker as Tilly *

John Hoyt John Hoyt (born John McArthur Hoysradt; October 5, 1905 – September 15, 1991) was an American actor. He began his acting career on Broadway, later appearing in numerous films and television series. He is perhaps best known for his film and TV ...

as Judge Kendall *

Irene Tedrow Irene Tedrow (August 3, 1907 – March 10, 1995) was an American character actress in stage, film, television and radio. Among her most notable roles are as Janet Archer in the radio series '' Meet Corliss Archer'', Mrs. Lucy Elkins on the TV si ...

as Mrs. Seeley

Reception

The film recorded a loss of $315,000.Richard Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story.'' New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1982 p256

References

External links

* * * * * 1951 films Films scored by Leigh Harline Films directed by John Cromwell 1951 drama films American drama films American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-drama-film-stub