Cafe Society

The sweet smell of success does not waft from this lurid pulp nonfiction tale about a swank prostitution racket that scandalized New York in 1952. Frank Whaley stars as Mickey Felke, a feckless oleomargarine heir with "nightclub-itis" whose club-hopping with lowlifes makes him the perfect fall guy. Peter Gallagher co-stars as an undercover vice cop, John Spencer cracks wise as a press agent who fishes for clients for illicit activities, and Lara Flynn Boyle, affecting an unconvincing throaty whisper, plays Mickey's (call) girl. Vintage footage sets the mood, which the modern-day footage immediately breaks. A bog of cigarette smoke passes for atmosphere, the dialogue is soft--rather than hard--boiled and the cast, Spencer excepted, look like they're playing dress-up in their period costumes. Not recommended. (K. Lee Benson)