I'm amazed the Shirley Jones was nominated for, let alone won, an Oscar this performance. I didn't believe she was a hooker for one moment, and she frequently seemed forced and phoney.
I guess people were impressed simply that she was playing a hooker after having been the sweet blonde in so many Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals. I think there were many, many actresses in Hollywood at the time who could have given a far, far better performance.
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I'm watching this film yet again and I agree with the OP. I think Shelley Winters would have been far more convincing. Shelley had this world weary, been there, done that attitude and it would've worked for this role. It would've been interesting since Shelly had an affair with Burt in real life
I survived because I was tougher than anybody else.- Bette Davis
Interestingly, Shelley Winters was also the first choice to play the role of Candy the prostitute in the great Pickup on South Street. Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe were also considered, but the role went to Jean Peters after director Sam Fuller saw her with a slight bow-legged gate typical of the way some prostitutes walk.
I can see Shelley Winters walking like a hooker. I can't really see someone like Shirley Jones with that kind of walk.
I always wondered if Shirley Jones was influenced by the wholesome Donna Reed cast as a prostitute in From Here to Eternity.
And Donna wasn't even b!tch-slapped in that film. I just love Burt Lancaster's line before he delivers a beat-down to Shirley's pimp: "Don't you know that hurts?". It's my favorite Burt Lancaster line of any of his films.