hardboiled warner brothers film starring young barbara stanwyck consummate master portraying machiavellian cool technique perfected eleven years later billy wilders double indemnity stanwyck plays lily powers wellworn daughter violent speakeasy owner suffocating steeltown rendered cynical numb years offered sexual favor fathers customers father dies distillery explosion hops freight train new york literally sleeps way corporate ladder bankbr br this would come across preposterous stanwycks blazing work here deadeyed stare amoral seduction methods easy see men become addicted aggressive carnality one young men seduces along way freshfaced john wayne things accountant named jimmy mccoy melodrama gets heavyhanded toward last third film murdersuicide hushhush job paris keep lily quiet new bank president addicted lily embezzles company funds keep luxury tackedon ending somewhat disappointing stanwyck sears screen film curious touches like lilys bonding friendship africanamerican woman named chico german immigrant teaches lily nietzsche philosophy regarding importance avoiding sentimentality