Portrait in Smoke. Wicked as They Come, directed by Ken Hughes, who also collaborated on the screenplay with Sigmund Miller and Robert Westerby, features Arlene Dahl, Philip Carey, Herbert Marshall, Michael Goodlife, and Ralph Truman. Malcolm Arnold composed the music, and Basil Emmott handled the cinematography. The film is based on a novel by Bill S. Ballinger, and tells the story of a young woman who realizes that her attractiveness will provide her with everything she desires, regardless of the consequences. It’s a well-made British noir film that compensates for its lack of inventiveness with some clever psychological insights. Like many movie fans and critics, we often compare recently seen films to others in the same genre that are superior. Wicked as They Come is one such example; it's a late entry in the original film noir cycle that puts a prominent femme fatale at its center. Dahl’s Kathy Allen (born Allenbourg) is eager and ready, a dangerous woman whose beauty and sexuality captivate men, causing them to eagerly do her bidding. What was once a group of sensible businesspeople now consists of easily manipulated individuals poised to fall into her trap. If that sounds familiar, it should; even before the enforcement of the Production Code, filmmakers were exploring the use of sex as a tool and playing with “bad girl” characters for cinematic excitement. Hughes understands that Dahl is his main attraction, and she’s stunningly beautiful even in black and white—a captivating woman to be envied. The plot isn't original; Kathy exploits every man she can to improve her own situation, but eventually, things must come to a head, revealing the source of her troubled mind as life presents a critical moment towards the film’s end. Certainly, there are other films that explore similar themes more effectively. However, this shouldn't lead viewers to disregard it as an option for those interested in femme fatale stories. Dahl is excellent, and her male counterparts are equally good; Hughes guides the movie safely to a suitably unclear conclusion. Welcome to noir territory—enter at your own peril. 7/10

Source on TMDB