A marriage gone bad is at the center of this story about a woman who discovers the possibility of love with another man. That is what happens to Josephine Morris, an unhappy wife, married to Mike, a police detective. She has met Larry Ellis, a man that loves her, but, he too, is suffering from the domination of his own mother. Mike, who discovers his wife is seeing Ellis, confronts his rival to fatal consequences.
Josephine's mother secures the services of lawyer Victor Santini, an ambulance chaser type, who doesn't seem to be the right man to defend her daughter. At the trial, Mrs. Ellis, exerts her dominance in getting the best lawyers money can buy on behalf of his son. Santini surprises by showing an intensity one never knew he had going head to head with the astute DA Phil Stanley. The biggest confrontation pits Santini against Mrs. Ellis.
Clifford Odets, a playwright on his own right, tried his hand as a director for a second time the material he had written directly for the screen. The results are a mixed bag, with some surprising acting from Anthony Franciosa and Sandford Meisner, another theater man that knew a thing, or two, about how to upstage the 'stars' of the film. Rita Hayworth underplays her Josephine and shows, at time, traces of the terrible disease that ended up killing her. Gig Young's character does not make too much sense, and he is too old to give the audience an idea he was a "mamma's boy". Mildred Dunnock has a good scene as she testifies and is grilled by Santini. Hugh Griffiths is seen as the judge in charge.
The film has a theatrical feeling, perhaps because the way it only uses interiors, and the second half happens inside a court.
Josephine's mother secures the services of lawyer Victor Santini, an ambulance chaser type, who doesn't seem to be the right man to defend her daughter. At the trial, Mrs. Ellis, exerts her dominance in getting the best lawyers money can buy on behalf of his son. Santini surprises by showing an intensity one never knew he had going head to head with the astute DA Phil Stanley. The biggest confrontation pits Santini against Mrs. Ellis.
Clifford Odets, a playwright on his own right, tried his hand as a director for a second time the material he had written directly for the screen. The results are a mixed bag, with some surprising acting from Anthony Franciosa and Sandford Meisner, another theater man that knew a thing, or two, about how to upstage the 'stars' of the film. Rita Hayworth underplays her Josephine and shows, at time, traces of the terrible disease that ended up killing her. Gig Young's character does not make too much sense, and he is too old to give the audience an idea he was a "mamma's boy". Mildred Dunnock has a good scene as she testifies and is grilled by Santini. Hugh Griffiths is seen as the judge in charge.
The film has a theatrical feeling, perhaps because the way it only uses interiors, and the second half happens inside a court.