Despite being a terrific film, it sure begins with a terrible narration. Please TOTALLY IGNORE the narration and hold on--this is an amazing film--even if it is 100% unbelievable from start to finish! The film begins with a dirt-bag getting his girlfriend (Barbara Stanwyck) pregnant and the running away to evade any responsibility (a pretty edgy plot for 1950). Soon, you see a very pregnant Stanwyck on a train where she is befriended by a sweet young couple (she is also quite pregnant). They talk and talk and soon Stanwyck learns that the couple are on their way to see his rents--and she is very nervous since she still hasn't met her in-laws.
The next scene is so ridiculously impossible, but bear with it! The train wrecks and Stanwyck is in the hospital. Her baby was born quite healthy but here is the twist--the couple died and people think Stanwyck is the dead man's wife! And now, the dead guy's family thinks she is family and the new baby is theirs! Stanwyck and the child are taken in and spoiled by these sweet people--and she can't tell them since her new 'mother-in-law' is a sickly lady with a bad heart--and the truth might kill her. So, Stanwyck goes along with it--not to defraud anyone but because they are such decent folks! Here is where it starts to get interesting--the old boyfriend shows up and threatens to expose Stanwyck as a phony unless she pays--and pays big. Ultimately, Stanwyck sees no other options and goes to kill the rat---only to see he's already dead. Where all this goes next, you'll just have to wait and see--but it's a very wild and exciting ride--filled with lots of twists and turns.
If the plot all sounds very familiar it's because the film was remake (with a few plot twists) as "While You Were Sleeping"!!! Yes, a dark noir suspense film became a wonderful romantic comedy--who would have figured?! But, regardless of the implausibility, the film works wonderfully and is a treat. See this film--it's a doozey.
The next scene is so ridiculously impossible, but bear with it! The train wrecks and Stanwyck is in the hospital. Her baby was born quite healthy but here is the twist--the couple died and people think Stanwyck is the dead man's wife! And now, the dead guy's family thinks she is family and the new baby is theirs! Stanwyck and the child are taken in and spoiled by these sweet people--and she can't tell them since her new 'mother-in-law' is a sickly lady with a bad heart--and the truth might kill her. So, Stanwyck goes along with it--not to defraud anyone but because they are such decent folks! Here is where it starts to get interesting--the old boyfriend shows up and threatens to expose Stanwyck as a phony unless she pays--and pays big. Ultimately, Stanwyck sees no other options and goes to kill the rat---only to see he's already dead. Where all this goes next, you'll just have to wait and see--but it's a very wild and exciting ride--filled with lots of twists and turns.
If the plot all sounds very familiar it's because the film was remake (with a few plot twists) as "While You Were Sleeping"!!! Yes, a dark noir suspense film became a wonderful romantic comedy--who would have figured?! But, regardless of the implausibility, the film works wonderfully and is a treat. See this film--it's a doozey.