I like this film so much and I think, now, it is finally getting the praise it deserves. Leonard Maltin called it slow and predictable and other critics called it an absurd melodrama. I strongly disagree.
Jean Simmons must have jumped at the chance to play a "bad girl" and I think her icy demeanour was totally right for the part. Seeing it for the first time - the fact that she is quite insane creeps up very slowly.
Robert Mitchum is his usual cool self as Frank Jessup, an ambulance driver who is called to the mansion of a "would be" suicide victim (Barbara O'Neil) who is convinced someone is trying to kill her. Following that storyline could have made the film predictable but the audience sees the story through Frank's very casual eyes and he becomes tangled up with Diane (Jean Simmons) and her wealthy family. She feels a lot of hate toward her stepmother, who she feels is the cause of her father's (Herbert Marshall) inactivity. Her father is suffering from writer's block. He married O'Neil for her money and his creativity has dried up as he spends his days spending his wife's money and lavishly buying clothes and trinkets for his daughter Diane. She has set her sights on Frank and his "casual" girlfriend (Mona Freeman) is left behind.
There is a scene where Mona Freeman is in her nightie, there is a knock at the door and she casually opens it - then gets Mitchum to zip up her dress!!!! (which she puts on after he has made himself at home in her flat) - pretty "hot stuff" for a big studio film of the early 50s.(Well, I suppose Howard Hughes did produce it.)
There is a double murder, a trial, a marriage, rejection and then ..... but I won't spoil it. The ending is shocking and a huge surprise.
Jean Simmons is beautiful as the icy Diane. Herbert Marshall has a very rare chance at playing a "not nice" character and is good. Robert Mitchum is always sooooo coooool playing whatever role he plays. Did he ever give a bad performance??????????
Jean Simmons must have jumped at the chance to play a "bad girl" and I think her icy demeanour was totally right for the part. Seeing it for the first time - the fact that she is quite insane creeps up very slowly.
Robert Mitchum is his usual cool self as Frank Jessup, an ambulance driver who is called to the mansion of a "would be" suicide victim (Barbara O'Neil) who is convinced someone is trying to kill her. Following that storyline could have made the film predictable but the audience sees the story through Frank's very casual eyes and he becomes tangled up with Diane (Jean Simmons) and her wealthy family. She feels a lot of hate toward her stepmother, who she feels is the cause of her father's (Herbert Marshall) inactivity. Her father is suffering from writer's block. He married O'Neil for her money and his creativity has dried up as he spends his days spending his wife's money and lavishly buying clothes and trinkets for his daughter Diane. She has set her sights on Frank and his "casual" girlfriend (Mona Freeman) is left behind.
There is a scene where Mona Freeman is in her nightie, there is a knock at the door and she casually opens it - then gets Mitchum to zip up her dress!!!! (which she puts on after he has made himself at home in her flat) - pretty "hot stuff" for a big studio film of the early 50s.(Well, I suppose Howard Hughes did produce it.)
There is a double murder, a trial, a marriage, rejection and then ..... but I won't spoil it. The ending is shocking and a huge surprise.
Jean Simmons is beautiful as the icy Diane. Herbert Marshall has a very rare chance at playing a "not nice" character and is good. Robert Mitchum is always sooooo coooool playing whatever role he plays. Did he ever give a bad performance??????????