Mobster Johnny Vanning (Eduardo Ciannelli) is the new proprietor of the Club Intime, and he let's everyone know how it's going to be - his henchmen, his employees, and the hostesses who work the patrons. Even the name of the club needs to go, because Johnny doesn't know what "Intime" means. A derivation of "intimate", the new club becomes "Club Intimate", or "In other words, a clip joint...", as described by hostess Mary Dwight (Bette Davis).
When a patron attempts to run out on a gambling debt with Mary's help, she and her co-workers begin to realize the depths to which Vanning will go to exercise his supreme authority, as the debtor turns into a corpse. Assistant D.A. David Graham (Humphrey Bogart), against the better judgment of his boss, Arthur Sheldon (Henry O'Neill), attempts to bring a case against Vanning. But without all his ducks in a row, and a shaky testimony from Mary, Vanning is acquitted, and the heat begins to turn up on Mary and the girls.
When Mary's sister Betty (Mary Bryan) unexpectedly shows up to visit from college, things begin to spiral out of control. When Emmy Lou (Isabel Jewell) tries to show Betty a good time, she winds up as the match up for a high rolling friend of Vanning. Unwilling to cooperate in the romance department, Vanning forcefully slaps Betty, sending her careening down a flight of stairs, never to regain consciousness.
When Graham confronts Mary Dwight with the news of her sister's death, Mary finally decides to go on the offensive. In doing so, she becomes the "Marked Woman" of the title, bearing Johnny's knife carved X on her cheek as a brand for her defiance. In rallying her friends from the club together, the time for Vanning's downfall is at hand, as Graham's new case against the mobsters now has solid evidence. It's masterfully played out, as Vanning and his goons are sentenced to a thirty year hitch for their misdeeds.
Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart appeared in an amazing six films together, this being their fourth outing. All are recommended viewing - "The Bad Sister" (1931, Davis' film debut); "Three on a Match" (1932); "The Petrified Forest" (1937), "Kid Galahad" (1937), and "Dark Victory". It's in "Kid Galahad" that Davis best demonstrates her versatility and range as an actress, even though it's a supporting role.
When a patron attempts to run out on a gambling debt with Mary's help, she and her co-workers begin to realize the depths to which Vanning will go to exercise his supreme authority, as the debtor turns into a corpse. Assistant D.A. David Graham (Humphrey Bogart), against the better judgment of his boss, Arthur Sheldon (Henry O'Neill), attempts to bring a case against Vanning. But without all his ducks in a row, and a shaky testimony from Mary, Vanning is acquitted, and the heat begins to turn up on Mary and the girls.
When Mary's sister Betty (Mary Bryan) unexpectedly shows up to visit from college, things begin to spiral out of control. When Emmy Lou (Isabel Jewell) tries to show Betty a good time, she winds up as the match up for a high rolling friend of Vanning. Unwilling to cooperate in the romance department, Vanning forcefully slaps Betty, sending her careening down a flight of stairs, never to regain consciousness.
When Graham confronts Mary Dwight with the news of her sister's death, Mary finally decides to go on the offensive. In doing so, she becomes the "Marked Woman" of the title, bearing Johnny's knife carved X on her cheek as a brand for her defiance. In rallying her friends from the club together, the time for Vanning's downfall is at hand, as Graham's new case against the mobsters now has solid evidence. It's masterfully played out, as Vanning and his goons are sentenced to a thirty year hitch for their misdeeds.
Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart appeared in an amazing six films together, this being their fourth outing. All are recommended viewing - "The Bad Sister" (1931, Davis' film debut); "Three on a Match" (1932); "The Petrified Forest" (1937), "Kid Galahad" (1937), and "Dark Victory". It's in "Kid Galahad" that Davis best demonstrates her versatility and range as an actress, even though it's a supporting role.