I agree with another reviewer on this film; it could have been a classic if the ending were handled differently. Unfortunately the writers, Hecht and Lancaster went for the safe Hollywood ending that generally followed the Hayes Code that killers always had to be shown as punished or die in a film, or it could not be approved by the code. I almost never give a spoiler to my reivews, but this film cries for one. There are four possible endings for this movie. A boat is sailing at midnight and if Burt and Fontaine are on it, they can escape their unfortunate and undeserved circumstances. That would one ending. The second is that the captain of the ship would only allow one of them to board for the money he was paid; that would lead to a choice of either Burt or Fontaine. Burt would want Fontaine to board, and vice-versa. So those would be three possible endings. And then, there is the ending where neither of them board, and they both go back to face the music; that is the most unrealistic and unsatisfying ending of all.
If Burt boards, and Fontaine stays behind, she can beat the rap of self-defense rather easily, I would calculate. However, if Fontaine boards and leaves Burt behind to face the music, the women in the audience would think her an unbelievable hypocrite. So, the ending for Fontaine to board and Burt to walk into the night might have been better that the eventual chosen ending, but not as good as Burt boarding and Fontaine going back to face to lesser charge of self-defense. Of course, if they were both able to board, you would have a really stock Hollywood ending that would not work well, either. A potential classic is ruined by taking the easy way out and having both protagonists go back to face the music. Give me a break. Would not happen in a million years. No, better to have one or the other stay behind and to sacrafice themselves for love; much more dramatic and romantic than the chosen ending. I realize some people will disagree with me on this one; but like an umpire, I have to call them like I see them.
If Burt boards, and Fontaine stays behind, she can beat the rap of self-defense rather easily, I would calculate. However, if Fontaine boards and leaves Burt behind to face the music, the women in the audience would think her an unbelievable hypocrite. So, the ending for Fontaine to board and Burt to walk into the night might have been better that the eventual chosen ending, but not as good as Burt boarding and Fontaine going back to face to lesser charge of self-defense. Of course, if they were both able to board, you would have a really stock Hollywood ending that would not work well, either. A potential classic is ruined by taking the easy way out and having both protagonists go back to face the music. Give me a break. Would not happen in a million years. No, better to have one or the other stay behind and to sacrafice themselves for love; much more dramatic and romantic than the chosen ending. I realize some people will disagree with me on this one; but like an umpire, I have to call them like I see them.