A millionaire with a mysterious fiancee hires a detective to discover the truth about her past.A millionaire with a mysterious fiancee hires a detective to discover the truth about her past.A millionaire with a mysterious fiancee hires a detective to discover the truth about her past.
Ricky Allen
- Boy in Library
- (uncredited)
Val Avery
- Pudgey Smith
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTo prepare herself to play the heroine with a checkered past, Carroll Baker actually worked a shift in an all-night diner (where she went unnoticed), made change in a penny arcade booth, visited a Tijuana brothel and so forth - publicity stunt "research" that was documented in a lengthy February 27 1965 Saturday Evening Post picture story called "The Lady Was A Tramp".
- GoofsIn the library sequence, none of books are marked with the Dewey Decimal System coding or other markings that would enable anyone to easily find or shelve books.
- Quotes
Alan Macklin: You mentioned something about a job.
Frederic Summers: Sylvia West. I want to know who she is. I want to know everything there is to know about Sylvia West. Everything a prospective husband has a right to know.
- ConnectionsReferenced in What's My Line?: Lee Remick (2) (1965)
- SoundtracksSylvia
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
Music by David Raksin
Sung by Paul Anka
Thru the courtesy of RCA Victor Records
Featured review
E.V. Cunningham's book becomes a glossy potboiler typical of its era, with George Maharis well-cast as an L.A. detective assigned by millionaire Peter Lawford to uncover the life-secrets of Lawford's enigmatic fiancée, poetess and ace gardener Carroll Baker. As Maharis probes the lengthy case, each "witness" reveals a portion of the girl's sordid past in an episodic format--with the ethics involved in such an unmasking (as well as a growing love for his subject) overtaking the private eye just before his report is due. Will he turn the girl's secrets over, or will he attempt to woo her himself? Gordon Douglas directs the film in a hopelessly square, old-fashioned style; even with its adult overtures, the picture still looks like a rerun of TV's "Burke's Law". However, Maharis, dark and muscular, connects with the audience simply by keeping a cool head and a civil tongue (he rises far above the material), and Baker is also fine, although her jaded, non-musical voice puts a wall up between her and the viewer. Supporting players come and go in "guest" spots, with Ann Southern standing out as a trampy lush and Viveca Lindfors puzzling--yet startlingly so--as a librarian (she seems to have had a crush on Sylvia--but also flirts with Maharis!). Douglas manages to steer the picture away from camp, though there is a drag queen "madame" in attendance and a ridiculous scene wherein Baker fights back kinky customer Lloyd Bochner (he pays her off to keep quiet, yet she emerges with only a cut on her cheek). David Raksin's score is cheaply extravagant, much like the film, and there are some intriguing and enjoyable moments, though it overstays its welcome. **1/2 from ****
- moonspinner55
- Jun 15, 2009
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Das Vorleben der Sylvia West
- Filming locations
- Beverly Amusement Park, 8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA(lunch scene after the bookshop)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 55 minutes
- Color
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