Party Girl

Party Girl

Year: 1958

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: Nicholas Ray

RomanceDramaCrimeCrime drugs and gangstersGritty crime and ruthless gangsters

At the toughest parties in town, slick defense attorney Thomas Farrell—who has built a career defending mobsters—encounters a charming showgirl. Their meeting makes him see life is about more than winning courtroom battles. When he tries to leave the racket, mob boss Rico Angelo threatens the showgirl, forcing Farrell to confront his choices.

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Timeline & Setting – Party Girl (1958)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Party Girl (1958). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago serves as the urban backdrop where glamour and crime collide. The city hosts the mob party scenes at Rico Angelo's venues and the subsequent courtroom dramas that follow. Its bustling streets and clubs emphasize the contrast between allure and danger that drives the plot.

🏙️ City 🎭 Nightlife 🕵️ Organized crime

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:00

Main Characters – Party Girl (1958)

Meet the key characters of Party Girl (1958), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tommy Farrell (Robert Taylor)

A slick, ambitious defense attorney who makes a career out of representing Chicago mobsters. He uses his limp to manipulate jurors, bending the system to his advantage while pursuing a personal romance with Vicki. As the pressure from Rico and the mob tightens, his priorities blur between justice, loyalty, and self-preservation. His later arrest and conflict with Rico reveal the costs of playing both sides.

🎭 Drama ⚖️ Law & Morality ♿ Disability

Rico Angelo (Lee J. Cobb)

The party-hosting mob boss who commands loyalty through wealth and intimidation. He probes Farrell’s influence and uses threats to force the lawyer’s cooperation. His influence dims as rivalries intensify and a violent confrontation signals the limits of his control.

💼 Organized Crime 💥 Violence 🎭 Power

Vicki Gaye (Cyd Charisse)

A chorus girl who accepts money to attend a mob party, then falls for Farrell. Her romance with Farrell complicates the mob's power dynamics and places her in danger as gangsters seek to control her future. Her presence exposes how showbiz glamour and crime intersect.

🎶 Showbiz 💘 Romance ⚠️ Exploitation

Louis Canetto (John Ireland)

A mob associate who negotiates with Vicki and serves as a foil to Farrell’s legal strategies. He survives initial scrutiny but is drawn into crossfire, highlighting the perils of mob protection and rival schemes. His actions heighten the tension between law and crime.

💼 Organized Crime 🔫 Violence 🕵️ Betrayal

Joy Hampton (Myrna Hansen)

Vicki’s roommate who is found dead by suicide after an unwanted pregnancy by a married criminal. Her death triggers crucial decisions and escalates the conflict between the mob and the legal system. Her fate underscores the human cost of crime.

💔 Tragedy 🤰 Pregnancy 🕯️ Loss

Jeffrey Stewart (Kent Smith)

The district attorney who pushes for a crackdown on mob connections. He uses pressure to reveal ties between Farrell and the mob, steering the legal drama toward confrontation. His relentless pursuit tests the boundaries between justice and ambition.

⚖️ Law & Order 🔎 Investigation 🕵️ Prosecution

Cookie La Motte (Corey Allen)

A cold-blooded killer and bail jumper who aims to eliminate the prosecuting attorney. He plans ruthlessly and acts with brutal efficiency, but his schemes are ultimately unraveled in the mob world’s volatile dynamics. His downfall comes amid a tense confrontation with rival forces in an Indiana diner.

🔪 Violence 🕵️ Plotting 💰 Underworld

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:00

Major Themes – Party Girl (1958)

Explore the central themes of Party Girl (1958), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔒 Power & Corruption

The film centers on how wealth and influence corrupt the legal process. Rich mob bosses pull strings to protect their interests, while a calculating attorney leverages personal vulnerabilities to sway verdicts. The story uses crime and courtroom battles to show how power can override justice.

💘 Romance & Exploitation

A romance develops between Farrell and Vicki amid money, manipulation, and risk. Vicki's entry into the mob world reveals how desire can entangle people in criminal schemes. The relationship tests loyalty and raises the stakes in both love and law.

⚖️ Law vs Mob

The DA's relentless pursuit of mob connections pushes Farrell into a precarious position. The courtroom becomes a battleground where truth competes with pressure from criminals. The narrative shows the fragility of justice when organized crime wields too much influence.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:00

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Party Girl Summary

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Party Girl Summary

Party Girl Timeline

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Party Girl Timeline

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