Copyright 18 November 1949 by Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 22 October 1949. New York opening at the Strand: 21 October 1949. Australian release: 27 April 1951. 8,640 feet. 96 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A woman's dull husband (he's the doctor in a small town) does not help her greedy disposition.
NOTES: Davis' last film as a contract star for Warner Bros. Steiner was nominated for an Academy Award for his score in the Drama/Comedy category, losing to Aaron Copland's The Heiress.
COMMENT: There is much to enjoy in this high-blown melodrama, despite its wild implausibility and Miss Davis's incredible theatrics in what is virtually a cruel and incisive self-parody. To see Miss Davis as a sultry femme fatale requires a considerable suspension of belief which her garish make-up and ripe mannerisms do nothing to lessen.
Still, Miss Davis, for all her faults, is infinitely preferable to Joseph Cotten whose screen personality here is even more woebegone and tiresomely philosophic than usual.
The support cast is better: Ruth Roman makes good capital out of her couple of brief appearances, Minor Watson has an unusually meaty role and Dona Drake registers strongly as a slatternly maid.
The script has some bizarre touches which Vidor directs with style and relish, particularly the off-beat, storybook-style opening and the elaborate crane shot at the conclusion. Max Steiner's music score consists almost entirely of variations on Fred Fisher's "Chicago" and is quite effective. The photography, especially the location work, is superb. Production values are lavish.
SYNOPSIS: A woman's dull husband (he's the doctor in a small town) does not help her greedy disposition.
NOTES: Davis' last film as a contract star for Warner Bros. Steiner was nominated for an Academy Award for his score in the Drama/Comedy category, losing to Aaron Copland's The Heiress.
COMMENT: There is much to enjoy in this high-blown melodrama, despite its wild implausibility and Miss Davis's incredible theatrics in what is virtually a cruel and incisive self-parody. To see Miss Davis as a sultry femme fatale requires a considerable suspension of belief which her garish make-up and ripe mannerisms do nothing to lessen.
Still, Miss Davis, for all her faults, is infinitely preferable to Joseph Cotten whose screen personality here is even more woebegone and tiresomely philosophic than usual.
The support cast is better: Ruth Roman makes good capital out of her couple of brief appearances, Minor Watson has an unusually meaty role and Dona Drake registers strongly as a slatternly maid.
The script has some bizarre touches which Vidor directs with style and relish, particularly the off-beat, storybook-style opening and the elaborate crane shot at the conclusion. Max Steiner's music score consists almost entirely of variations on Fred Fisher's "Chicago" and is quite effective. The photography, especially the location work, is superb. Production values are lavish.