The Lady Pays Off (1951) Reviews

The Lady Pays Off is a formative example of filmmaker Douglas Sirk's elegant exotica. Linda Darnell plays the title character, a vacationing schoolteacher and one-time gambler named Evelyn Warren. Unfortunately, that "one time" leaves Evelyn indebted to casino owner Matt Braddock (Stephen McNally) to the tune of seven G's. Braddock offers to absolve Evelyn of her debts if she will agree to tutor his troublesome preteen daughter Diana (Gigi Perreau). Chafing at being forced into servitude, Evelyn schemes to make Braddock fall in love with her, then dump him. But Diana takes a liking to Evelyn and cooks up a little scheme on her own to bring the teacher and her father together. It's a simple, unassuming comedy, given a veneer of class and polish by the inimitable Mr. Sirk. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi