Sylvia (1965)

A millionaire (Peter Lawford) hires a private detective (George Maharis) to investigate his fiancee, a well regarded poetess (Carroll Baker) with a hidden past. As he meets those who knew her, the private eye finds himself traveling down a very troubling road going from Pittsburgh to Mexico to New York and involving rape and prostitution. Based on the novel by E.V. Cunningham, a pseudonym for Howard Fast (SPARTACUS) and directed by Gordon Douglas (THEM). Made between the more notorious THE CARPETBAGGERS (1964) and HARLOW (1965), this more modest B&W Carroll Baker star vehicle is actually a better film than those two. The story is more intriguing (it plays out like a mystery) and the acting generally better. There's still some luridness about the film. An outraged Bosley Crowther in his New York Times review said the director and producer "should have their mouths washed out" but on the whole, I found the film engrossing if pedestrian. David Raksin (LAURA) wrote the lush score and there are LAURA elements in its screenplay: a detective investigating a woman and falling in love with her before he ever meets her. The solid cast of supporting players include Ann Sothern (in the film's best performance), Edmond O'Brien, Aldo Ray, Joanne Dru, Viveca Lindfors, Nancy Kovack, Lloyd Bochner and Connie Gilchrist.