In one scene, Cole conducts a hostile takeover of the railroad company, literally shooting a fellow investor in the back, while the forces of the law turn the other way, distracted by a phalanx of strumpets led by a one - legged brothel madam played by — who else? (telegraph.co.uk)
Samantha Morton stars as Margaret Wells, an earthy brothel madam who sees prostitution as a way up for her family and her «girls.» (decider.com)
Set in the Pacific Northwest mining town of Presbyterian Church at the dawn of the twentieth century, Altman's film centers on the relationship between wayward gambler John McCabe (Beatty) and cockney brothel madam Constance Miller (Christie), who partner up to provide the town with a high - class whorehouse. (criterion.com)