Movie review: Lucille Ball stars in "Lured" (1947)

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Before she became the lovable Lucy on television and first lady of comedy, Lucille Ball toiled for years as an undistinguished actress from bit parts in the early 1930s to leads in B pictures. A RKO Pictures contract player, the actress never attained the great movie stardom she desired (much like Lucy Ricardo!) and was pretty much finished in movies when television superstardom hit. Ball did star in a few good movies notably 1942’s “The Big Street” in which she played a callous cripple confined to a wheelchair pushed by foolishly enamored Henry Fonda. “Lured” cast Ball as Sandra, a sarcastic chorus girl stranded in London after her show folds and reduced to taxi dancing to survive. A serial killer is preying upon young women through personal ads and Scotland Yard inspector Temple (Charles Coburn) is baffled. When Sandra’s friend Lucy falls victim, she is enlisted to go undercover as bait for the murderer. Among the suspects is Boris Karloff as demented fashion designer Charles Van Druten and George Sanders as suave nightclub owner Robert Fleming. The culprit’s identity is simple to recognize which is the only negative of the film. Directed by Douglas Sirk, “Lured” is based on the 1940 French film “Pieges” and filmed in Hollywood so authentic British flavor is missing though it does not really matter. The picture is handsomely produced and boasts a stellar cast. Never acclaimed as an exceptional dramatic actress, Ball acquits herself well in a suitable role. Sanders performs his trademark smooth manner while Karloff fans will be tickled by his eccentric performance. There is the presence of outstanding great character actors George Zucco, Robert Coote, Alan Mowbray, Joseph Calleia, Alan Napier and Cedric Hardwicke. A casting flaw is Coburn as he neither British nor attempts an accent so the character never rings true. “Lured” is entertaining relic from the Golden Age of Hollywood and an excellent look at Ball prior to her “I Love Lucy” persona. The film hit a snag with the Production Code Administration during its theatrical release. The title was changed to “Personal Column” because “Lured” was deemed inappropriate because it sounded too similar to the objectionable “lurid.” Censors were insanely picky then.