JohnHowardReid Unfortunately, this movie doesn't stand up to a second viewing. Vincent Sherman's direction fails to hit any high spots and is never more than routine. Admittedly, neither the story nor the dialogue could be described as encouraging. Characters like those played by David Brian (who believes in just shouting his lines) and Kent Smith (who plays his usual soppy, wet and spineless caricature) offer the script no support. The rest of the support cast can likewise be written off. Even ace photographer Ted McCord's work here seems far less gritty than we might expect. True, Joan Crawford shines much as usual. But also true, she has played this sort of character many, many times before. And good old director Sherman gives her a rich share of close-ups. Nevertheless, even Joan's most devoted fans are going to be disappointed that the damned don't cry!

Tim Kidner ...So announces Joan Crawford, as Ethel Whitehead, or is it Lorna Forbes? to gentleman no 1, who then dies mysteriously in a car accident. Her new suitor, played by David Brian is head of a racket involving gambling, vice and narcotics and who's fortune is in oil. Then, she gets involved in a conspiracy to eliminate him....Will Steve Cochran, as Nick Prenta become gentleman No.3?This greatly-titled melodrama's story falls a little short of that dramatic title, though. The often cliché-ridden rags-to-riches theme is a Hollywood stalwart that can get predictable, unless there's a knockout performance or other redeeming feature.Joan Crawford IS that redeeming feature. She's the woman on the way to the top, though the top of what is the question. Utilising her sexuality she uses men who are easily swayed, men who are on the shady side of virtuous. These men are portrayed as humourless puppy dogs that moodily and meanly leave their lines in Ms Crawford's lap. Only she gets to smile, laugh, cry and dominate the picture. Meanwhile director Vincent Sherman does a steady job with both cast and camera.For lovers of Joan Crawford, this is an absolute must. For the rest of us, it's not as good as her best - Mildred Pierce and Grand Hotel; not by quite a margin. Hence my 7 instead of 8 or even 9/10. I watched the DVD as part of the 5 disc Joan Crawford Collection. Other films included in that are: Mildred Pierce, Possessed, Humoresque and Grand Hotel.

edwagreen 5 years after "Mildred Pierce" and Joan Crawford is at it again. Again, she is poor and is willing to climb to the top no matter what. In this film, she becomes involved with organized crime and becomes a real pro in being used to infiltrate other wayward mobsters.From poverty to that Mildred Pierce mink, Crawford gave a truly memorable performance. She will stop at nothing to get to the top.Along the way, she seduces timid accountant, played masterfully by Kent Smith, to join the mob only two realize that the two of them are trapped.Another favorite co-star of Crawford, David Brian appears as the head mobster who is against violence but must come to grips with it when renegade hood, the always terrific Steve Cochran, seduces Crawford and then goes after her when he discovers that she is a Brian stooge.This is a gripping film-noir at its best.

blanche-2 Joan Crawford revitalized a flagging career when she left MGM and signed with Warner Brothers in the '40s. "The Damned Don't Cry" is just one of the very entertaining films she made for Warners, which include "Mildred Pierce," for which she won an Oscar and "Flamingo Road." The formula usually follows the rags to riches line, something Crawford was very good at indeed.Here, she's Ethel Whitehead, a wife and mother of a young boy who dies in an accident, at which point Ethel takes off seeking money, nice things, and the fun she's never had in life. She soon comes to the attention of a clothes manufacturer who has her model the clothes and encourage the buyers to spend their cash after hours. She rides the coattails of a bland CPA (Kent Smith) into the mob domain of George Castleman (David Brian), who gives her a life she only dreamed of - a society name, expensive digs, great trips, clothes and jewels - and no ring on third finger, left hand. Not that anyone has mentioned if she divorced her first husband (Richard Egan). Castleman, suspicious of Nick Prenta (Steve Cochran) who runs his western territory sends Ethel - now "Lorna Hanson Forbes" out to investigate and inveigle her way into Prenta's life to find out what he's planning. It's then that "Lorna" realizes she's just another thing that Castleman uses.This is a slick, fast-moving noir that is basically all Joan all the time. Surrounded by a strong cast, she's the only real star, and she looks it in her beautiful clothes and jewels. She's at her glamorous best here in 1950, right before she hardened into almost a caricature of herself in the '50s and '60s. I can't agree that Crawford's age (46) gets in the way and that Ava Gardner would have been better. Ethel/Lorna is the type of role at which Joan excelled. It was believable, to me at least, that these men were all attracted to her - her character has guts, intelligence, beauty and sexuality. David Brian is her brutish boyfriend, and the scene where he surprises her out west is quite violent, even by today's standards. Steve Cochran is handsome, boyish, and thug-like as Prenta, and he comes on strong."The Damned Don't Cry" is directed with great spirit by Vincent Sherman and will keep the viewer involved throughout.