Scarlet Angel *** (1952, Yvonne De Carlo, Rock Hudson, Richard Denning, Amanda Blake) – Classic Movie Review 13,880

Universal Pictures’ 1952 American Technicolor historical adventure film Scarlet Angel stars Yvonne De Carlo and Rock Hudson with his first star billing.

‘SHE’S A ONE-MAN GIRL WITH A TWO-TIMING HEART!’

Director Sidney Salkow’s pleasing 1952 Universal Pictures American Technicolor historical adventure film Scarlet Angel stars Yvonne De Carlo, Rock Hudson, and Richard Denning.

Yvonne De Carlo stars as thieving saloon girl Roxy McClanahan, who poses as the widow of a deceased US Civil War hero to claim a reward from the woman’s rich relatives, but gets distracted when she finds she can’t keep away from hunky sea captain Frank Truscott (Rock Hudson), who is pursuing her after seeing her steal a customer’s wallet in the saloon.

In 1865 New Orleans, Roxy finds a sick woman, war widow Linda Caldwell (Bodil Miller), with a baby. When the mother dies, she steals her identity and leaves for San Francisco to find the woman’s wealthy relatives: untrusting Susan Bradley (Amanda Blake) and her brother Malcolm Bradley (Richard Denning), who also develops a strong interest in her.

De Carlo and Hudson are fun in this cheap and cheerful double feature that combines equal proportions of adventure and melodrama in a competent but unimaginative plot, boosted by a colourful production, the Technicolor photography, and a hard-working, appealing cast.

Filming began in November 1951 and it was released on June 15, 1952.

It was supposed to be an original screenplay by Oscar Brodney, though it resembles Norman Krasna’s script for The Flame of New Orleans (1941).

Cast: Yvonne De Carlo, Rock Hudson, Richard Denning, Henry O’Neill, Amanda Blake, Whitfield Connor, Bodil Miller, Henry Brandon, Maude Wallace, Dan Riss, Tol Avery, Ada Adams, Betty Allen, Jean Andren, Frederic Berest, Leo Curley, Jack Daley, Marlo Dwyer, Joseph Forte, Coleman Francis, Fred Graham, Dabbs Greer, Creighton Hale, Harry Harvey, Thomas Browne Henry, Ed Hinkle, Charles Horvath, Nolan Leary, Bert LeBaron, Eddie Parker, Millicent Patrick, Jack Perry, Mickey Pfleger, George Ramsey, Elizabeth Root, Carl Saxe, George Spaulding, Frankie Van, Dale Van Sickel, Bud Wolfe.

Scarlet Angel is directed by Sidney Salkow, runs 81 minutes, is made by Universal International Pictures, is released by Universal Pictures (US) and General Film Distributors (UK), is written by Oscar Brodney (original screenplay), is shot in Technicolor by Russell Metty, is produced by Leonard Goldstein, is scored by Milton Rosen, Hans J Salter, Frank Skinner and Joseph Gershenson, and is designed by Robert Clatworthy and Bernard Herzbrun.

Hudson and De Carlo went on to make Sea Devils together in 1953.

 © Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,880

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