Year of Release: 1941Country of Origin: USA
Director: Edmund Goulding
Cast: Bette Davis, George Brent, Mary Astor
Plot outline: After a newlywed's husband apparently dies in a plane crash, she discovers that her rival for his affections is now pregnant with his child; she then makes a truce with her (IMDb).
If it had not been for smart writing and great performance by the two leading ladies, Bette Davis and Mary Astor, the movie would have been just like any other soapies. The writing wastes no time mapping out the plot and the characters, cutting out all the unnecessary sentimentality that is often found in melodramatic soapies. Bette Davis surprisingly takes a softer role as a gentle but hapless heroine, giving Mary Astor a meaty role as a cold, heartless, unmitigated bitch. The best scenes are when Davis and Astor confront and interact with each other, culminating in a marvelous bitch-fest in a shack in the middle of Arizona desert as Astor rebels against Davis' control. Davis' performance is great - as always, but Astor steals the show and walks away with an Oscar. I also like the swift ending that ends the movie on high notes. The choice of great classical Piano Concerto #1 in B Flat Minor by Tchaikovsky as the musical score that heightens the tension between the characters throughout the movie is superb too. I am giving this movie three stars solely because of their great performances.
My judgement: *** out of 4 stars
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