(1964)3Craig ButlerProbably no one would really expect A House is Not a Home, a movie based upon the memoirs of famed Madam Polly Adler, to be a great movie. What's surprising therefore isn't that House is only a so-so film; what's surprising is that it's really rather dull. After all, Adler's life was full of spice and drama. But not matter how hard writers Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene try, no matter how many melodramatic situations they contrive, the movie never works up the head of steam that should come naturally to it. Certainly, the by-the-numbers screenplay deserves a big share of the blame, but so does Rouse's unimaginative direction. He gets the job done, but House lacks character and distinction. In the leading role, Shelley Winters turns in a solid performance, mannered at times, but all in all quite effective, and providing a lot of the drive that the film otherwise lacks. Robert Taylor doesn't put a great deal into his role, but Broderick Crawford, Kaye Ballard and even Cesar Romero help to make up for it. Ralph Taeger doesn't win any awards for his performance, but he's decent, and he has the right look for the part. Edith Head's costumes were Oscar-nominated, and they're certainly attractive, but not really among her best work.
