Women in the Night (DVD)

From secret files of the Second World War comes a shocking true story of shame and deception. During the final months of the war, the Japanese military spares beautiful, nubile allied women from starvation in concentration camps by choosing them to serve as concubines for their officers. Faced with a horrific choice, some of the women commit suicide, while others give themselves willingly. Most clothe their disgust and contempt with a false seductive smile as they gather valuable information from their captors and pass it on to the Allies.

This rarely seen exploitation potboiler is well done with stylish direction by William Rowland and convincing performances led by Tala Birell and Virginia Christine. Romanian actress Tala Birell had several other roles associated with anti-Nazi resistance efforts, most notably China (1943) and Till We Meet Again (1944). Virginia Christine became a well-known character actress with important roles in Stanley Kramer productions including Not As A Stranger (1955), Judgement At Nuremberg (1961) and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967) as well as the 1956 sci-fi classic Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. She will always be best remembered as kindly Swedish neighbor Mrs. Olson in the Folgers' coffee commercials.

• drama