Slightly Scarlet

Slightly Scarlet is a crime drama set in a California city where a reform-minded politician, Frank Jansen, is campaigning against organized crime and the gangster Solly Caspar. June Lyons works as Jansen's secretary and becomes caught between the campaign and Ben Grace, a small-time operator in Caspar's operation who wants to displace his boss and is in love with June. June's sister Dorothy, recently released from prison after being convicted of theft and placed in June's care, steals again and draws attention that threatens the plans around her. The film follows how these ambitions and loyalties collide as the election approaches.

Allan Dwan directed the film, with a screenplay by Robert Blees and Benedict Bogeaus producing. It stands ninth in the chronological list of Dwan's directed features, following Silver Lode. John Payne stars as John Grace, with Rhonda Fleming as June Lyons and Arlene Dahl as Dorothy Lyons; Kent Taylor, Ted de Corsia and Lance Fuller also appear.

Released in 1956 and running 99 minutes, the film is rated 6.5 out of 10 on IMDb from around 1,400 votes and 6.3 out of 10 on TMDB from a much smaller voter pool of 36. The wider IMDb sample suggests moderate approval from viewers.