Bette Davis as Joyce Ramsey in an engrossing melodrama about the split of a married couple. She is a ruthless social climber from jump, destroying her husband's partnership and friendship with his bestie, destroying the bestie at the same stroke. She is oblivious to her husband's despair at her shenanigans, but that's easy enough because he's a big pushover who only puts up a little objection before falling back into the soft world she's made for him, even if it is out of other people's dreams. This is one of Bette Davis's good ones; it's riveting just to watch and listen to her. The sever look she sports on her face throughout this flick is a dream, it's so la Davis. Plus it's hilarious to watch her play young in her 40s with that strange little body that always looks middle aged. There's a delightful scene that foreshadows An Affair to Remember where Joyce visits her old friend played by Jane Cowl on Port-au-Prince. Ms. Cowl is wonderful as an aging, moneyed, divorcee keeping a gigolo to stave off the loneliness. From scene to scene this movie is a great diversion.
Review of Payment on Demand
