Catch it if you can because it is not showed very often on television, especially not in England, "No Orchids For Miss. Blandish" (1948). A film which once caught the world's attention in sensationalism and controversy for its explicit content, now makes only a whisper amongst hardcore filmophiles and classic film fans.

The story follows as one night while heiress "Miss. Blandish" (Linden Travers) and her fiance are driving around town, they are ambushed by a gang of crooks. Her fiancee is killed before her eyes and Miss. Blandish is kidnapped. As it turns out, the ambush was planned in order for the thugs to get a hold on Miss. Blandish's priceless necklace. As the film progresses, the body count rises as Miss. Blandish falls in love with leader of The Grisson Gang, Slim. In a particularly chilling scene, Miss. Blandish is confronted by one of the crooks. When he is about to attack her, the Grisson Gang moves in and kills Blandish's attacker. Needless to say, the film explores violence and sexuality in its most lewd forms.

Since it was of the times film critics were relentless in displaying their outrage and disgust. “It has all the morals of an alley cat and the sweetness of a sewer, wrote "The Observer." Amongst the other reviews, "The Guardian" wrote that the film was "thoroughly un-British." The Sunday Express reported it as, "The worst film I have ever seen." Even Life magazine dedicated a spread to the controversy.

But no one was more outraged than the film censors who were angered if not baffled by how the film was able to pass them. As a result of the controversy, United Artists backed out of their distribution agreements for America and initially chose to only release it in certain parts of Latin America.

It was thought the overwhelming negative publicity would terminate the film from ever being seen again, but it did just the opposite. In fact, all of England flocked to the cinemas. It was only two years later that the film's reputation preceded it in America when the "No Orchids for Miss. Blandish" debuted and movie houses sold out across the country.

Once the excitement died down, the film seemed to go quietly into obscurity. The director, St. John Leigh Clowes, passed away shortly after the film's completion; it would be his only directorial accomplishment. As for the cast, Linden Avers later revealed that out of all the roles she played, "Miss. Blandish" was her favorite.

Filmophiles and classic film fans continue to argue the merit of "No Orchids For Miss. Blandish" to this day. Some see the film's themes involving gruesome violence and sex as a point of making it ahead of its time, while others entirely disregard the film. Although "No Orchids for Miss. Blandish" is not spoken about or even highly spoken of, it is a film which still sparks conversation and curiosity. A film deserving of cult status.