This is one of Joan Crawford's better films. It has so much going for it: the full energy and finances of MGM (the film looks great and features many of MGM's best players), a wonderful plot (packed with lots of cynicism) and a decent acting job by Joan. Although I was able to generally predict where this unusual movie would go, I was so impressed at how good a job was done with the film that I really didn't mind that the suspense elements weren't quite as surprising as they might have intended.
Aside from Ms. Crawford, I really loved the horrid villain played by Conrad Veidt--he was absolutely slimy and easy to hate. Also, it was fun to see Marjorie Main made up so differently than usual--at first, I didn't even recognize her. I also LOVED the part played by Albert Bassermann--he was so wonderful and lovable.
All-in-all, a wonderful film with nothing negative to say about it other than one minor gripe. Why is it in so many Crawford movies does she play a woman obviously a lot younger than she really was. This wasn't as bad as most of her films of the 50s (where she played women 20 years younger), but according to the numbers thrown about in the film, I reckon she was 27--while in real life she was close to 40 and definitely looked it. A great acting job, true, but why the big lie about the age?
Aside from Ms. Crawford, I really loved the horrid villain played by Conrad Veidt--he was absolutely slimy and easy to hate. Also, it was fun to see Marjorie Main made up so differently than usual--at first, I didn't even recognize her. I also LOVED the part played by Albert Bassermann--he was so wonderful and lovable.
All-in-all, a wonderful film with nothing negative to say about it other than one minor gripe. Why is it in so many Crawford movies does she play a woman obviously a lot younger than she really was. This wasn't as bad as most of her films of the 50s (where she played women 20 years younger), but according to the numbers thrown about in the film, I reckon she was 27--while in real life she was close to 40 and definitely looked it. A great acting job, true, but why the big lie about the age?