A Cold Wind in August 1961

Iris, Lola Albright, a woman with a background as a burlesque-show stripper, is visited at her New York City apartment by her estranged husband, Joe De Santis. He asks that she star in an upcoming show in Newark, New Jersey for which he is obliged to supply performers. She resists the idea, preferring privacy and avoiding work in the New York area. Yet, moved by his predicament and lacking romantic feelings toward him, she agrees to consider it.

During this time, Iris meets Vito Perugino, Scott Marlowe, the 17-year-old son of the apartment building’s superintendent, and experiences an immediate and powerful physical attraction. In their first meeting, she is flirtatious; in their second, she seduces him, starting a passionate affair.

That initial physical connection deepens into emotional attachment, and what started as a brief liaison becomes a serious relationship. Vito asks Iris to go steady with him, and although she initially laughs at the phrase, she happily accepts.

to go steady

Trouble arises when Vito’s jealousy causes friction; Iris attempts to withdraw, but the attempt only makes her miserable. She returns to Vito and they begin to patch their relationship, declaring their love for one another, but Vito remains unaware of her occupation, believing her to be a model or actress.

When Iris performs in the Newark burlesque show, Vito’s friend sees her and informs him. He initially refuses to believe it, but he attends the next night’s show and confirms that Iris is indeed a burlesque performer. Vito lacks the ability to cope with the destruction of his idealistic view of Iris, and an explosive argument ensues.

After a week, Iris contacts Vito, hoping to reconcile by inviting him to dinner at her apartment. But upon his arrival, he finds that his interest in the relationship has waned. Although he is no longer angry with Iris about her occupation, the discovery and the argument have lessened his passion. Vito acknowledges what Iris has sensed. He tries to console her, and Iris assures him that her love is genuine. Vito leaves, on his way to a date with the new object of his romantic attention, a girl his own age, and Iris is left alone sobbing.