Bette Davis has always been my favorite actress. I didn't care for most of her pre-1935 films, but that is more because of the films, not her performances. This film was well into (if not just slightly beyond) her prime...and it's atrocious. It's only redeeming quality is that it's the film that she was kidded about for the rest of her career due to the famous line, "What a dump!" And if you think I'm being overly sarcastic about the film, Davis herself later said it was "a terrible movie". I'll take her word for that. As well s the scathing reviews given by a number of noted pro reviewers.
Let's start with the beginning of the film. The first ten to fifteen minutes is a ridiculously complicated mess trying to set up the movie's premise -- that Davis' character is a slut. It didn't need to be that bizarre...totally unrealistic. And then there's the setting...the upper Midwest...with all those mountains. There was nothing sacred about the location...why not change the location to make it look more realistic.
And then there's the characterizations. Davis' role here is nothing more than a grossly camp exaggeration of something not close to being believable, outdone only by the characterization of the maid, which actually made me laugh out loud. On the other hand several of the actors, especially Joseph Cotten (as the male lead) and Minor Watson (in a supporting role) are dependable as they always were.
I wish I could think of something good about this movie. Oh...one thing impressed me. It lasted about a minute at the end of the film -- the use of the locomotive in the death scene.
My view...watch this film for one reason...a good laugh.
Let's start with the beginning of the film. The first ten to fifteen minutes is a ridiculously complicated mess trying to set up the movie's premise -- that Davis' character is a slut. It didn't need to be that bizarre...totally unrealistic. And then there's the setting...the upper Midwest...with all those mountains. There was nothing sacred about the location...why not change the location to make it look more realistic.
And then there's the characterizations. Davis' role here is nothing more than a grossly camp exaggeration of something not close to being believable, outdone only by the characterization of the maid, which actually made me laugh out loud. On the other hand several of the actors, especially Joseph Cotten (as the male lead) and Minor Watson (in a supporting role) are dependable as they always were.
I wish I could think of something good about this movie. Oh...one thing impressed me. It lasted about a minute at the end of the film -- the use of the locomotive in the death scene.
My view...watch this film for one reason...a good laugh.