A House Is Not a Home (film)

A House Is Not a Home

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1964
Key people	Russell Rouse (director), Steve Jankowski (writer)
Products	Drama film

A House Is Not a Home is a 1964 American drama motion picture helmed by director Russell Rouse and scripted by Steve Jankowski. The narrative is loosely adapted from the 1953 memoir of madam Polly Adler. The cast features Shelley Winters, Robert Taylor, Cesar Romero, and Kaye Ballard, with Raquel Welch making her screen debut. The film's title track, composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, has become a classic standard.

Plot

The story follows Polly Adler, a sophisticated madam, as she reminisces about her journey from a struggling Polish immigrant laboring in a sweatshop to becoming the proprietor of a luxurious brothel. After suffering sexual assault by her employer, resulting in the loss of both her job and residence, she meets Frank Costigan, a bootlegger who permits her to use his apartment for clandestine encounters. Polly quickly ascends to the role of madam, overseeing an elite establishment while bribing law enforcement and brokering arrangements between politicians and criminals.

Polly reunites with singer Casey Booth, who had once protected her. She aids in advancing his career, and their relationship deepens. When Casey proposes marriage, Polly discloses her line of work, which profoundly unsettles him. Subsequently, Casey arrives intoxicated at her residence and is forcibly removed by Costigan's associates.

Costigan advances to become an enforcer for mob boss Lucky Luciano and backs Polly's Park Avenue enterprise. As law enforcement intensifies pressure on Luciano’s syndicate, internal strife culminates in the deaths of two brothers involved in the sex business. Polly is invited to a gathering where Casey seeks reconciliation. Costigan cautions that marrying Casey would be detrimental to him; consequently, Polly reluctantly ends their relationship and returns alone to the event.

Cast

Actor	Character
Shelley Winters	Polly Adler
Robert Taylor	Frank Costigan
Cesar Romero	Lucky Luciano
Ralph Taeger	Casey Booth
Kaye Ballard	Sidonia
Broderick Crawford	Harrigan
Mickey Shaughnessy	Police Sgt. Riordan
Jesse White	Rafferty
Lisa Seagram	Madge
Meri Welles	Lorraine
Connie Gilchrist	Hattie Miller
Constance Dane	Laura
Allyson Ames	Gwen
Lewis Charles	Angelo
Steve Peck	Vince
Roger C. Carmel	Dixie Keeler
J. Pat O'Malley	Muldoon
Sandra Grant	Call Girl
Raquel Welch	Call Girl
Francine Pyne	Red-Call Girl
Edy Williams	Call Girl
Charles Fredericks	Bert
Danica d'Hondt	Vicki

Award nominations

Edith Head earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White category.