Smooth as Silk

Smooth as Silk is a 1946 American noir film directed by Charles Barton and starring Kent Taylor, Virginia Grey, and Milburn Stone. The film is also known as Notorious Gentleman as it is a version of 1935 film A Notorious Gentleman. The film focuses on the murder of a theater producer (John Litel) committed by a lawyer (Kent Taylor), after the lawyer's bride, an actress (Virginia Gray), left him for the producer to win a role in his new musical. Despite the fascinating plot and tense intrigue, this film failed to attract much attention. Plot Successful lawyer Mark Fenton (Kent Taylor) seeks to acquit young playboy Don Elliott (Danny Morton), accused of drunk driving and hitting a pedestrian to death. After completing the case, Mark approaches Don's uncle and trustee—the respected theater producer Stephen Elliott (John Litel)—to give his girlfriend, actress Paula Marlowe (Virginia Gray) a role in his new theatrical production. Stephen rejects the approach but compensates his refusal with a generous fee. Meanwhile, Paula's younger sister Susan (Jane Adams) arrives from the province, and Mark invites both sisters to a restaurant. During the dinner, Paula is extremely upset by Stephen's refusal to give her the role. There Mark introduces the sisters to the district attorney and his friend John Kimble (Milburn Stone), and to his teacher, the experienced lawyer Fletcher Holiday (Charles Trowbridge). They notice Don Elliott drinking at the bar counter. Mark mentions that Don is a Stephen's nephew and heir of the whole family wealth, which is now managed by his uncle. This fact invites Paula's keen interest. She leaves the company and meets with Don—to arrange a meeting at her home that evening. Paula begins dating Don on a regular basis. This pleases Stephen very mush, because under her influence, Don quits drinking. One evening, Paula turns to Don, requesting to arrange her for the coveted role in the Stephen's play. However, Don refuses to talk about this with his uncle on the grounds that the main character of the play is a vicious and deceitful woman, and such a role does not fit Paula at all. Admired by Paula's influence on his nephew, Steven decides to invite her to a dinner party. Although Susan sees Paula simply manipulating both men for the role, she, nevertheless, agrees to accompany her sister at the dinner in the Elliots' house.