AllMovie

An unfocused, jumbled melodrama, Playgirl is regrettably not quite as interesting as it wants to be -- or as its title promises. However, it is a n opportunity for those who know Shelley Winters only from her later roles to get a gander at how truly attractive and downright sexy she could be in her youth. She looks great here and conveys a sensuality that is quite surprising. Unfortunately, to view this one has to wade through a screenplay that is about as contrived as they come, with cardboard characters that spout dialogue that, while occasionally memorable, is arch and artificial. It's also overplotted; director Joseph Pevney should have insisted on a few cuts and much more clarity. He didn't, and so Playgirl has a tendency to wander about when it should be galloping for home. And while Winters looks good, her performance itself is solid rather than inspired; it's not enough to make up for the script's deficiencies. As her friend-turned-foe, Colleen Miller is equally attractive, but her performance is a bit soft. Barry Sullivan does the best he can with a hopeless part, but of the supporting cast, only Gregg Palmer does any work that deserves real notice.