Usually, film noir concerns a man in above his head either because of some crime, some dame, or both. Here, it is reversed. A pregnant woman (Barbara Stanwyck) is rejected by the father (Lyle Bettger) with a one way ticket out of town and ends up in the state of confusion where her identity is switched with that of another pregnant woman whose wedding ring happened to be on her finger after being killed in a train crash. Believed to be the widow of their dead son, she is taken in by them and treated as the daughter they never had. When the brother-in-law John Lund arrives, he notices some inconsistencies but slowly begins to fall in love with her. Of course, blackmail ensues, followed by murder, and with mother-in-law Jane Cowl ailing, Stanwyck fears her secrets will kill the woman who has come to love her like a daughter.
Suspending disbelief is a must for this enjoyable thriller, combo soap opera and film noir. The woman's touch is more prevalent here than normal. Stanwyck seems a bit older than the character is, so that's the first thing to suspend, then of course the situation aboard the train, and the arrival of the former lover just as Stanwyck is settling into her new life. Too many things happen that could cause Stanwyck to be exposed, but somehow, it is all overshadowed. That you end up liking this in spite of so many implausibilities is a credit to the writing, direction and acting. Add in a much altered remake ("Mrs. Winterbourne") with Rikki Lake in the Stanwyck role (now that is a trivia question in itself!) and you've got a lot to talk about with other film buffs.
Film Noir elements are subtle but explode with Bettger and Stanwyck's elopement scene, her visit to the other side of the tracks to confront him, and of course, the conclusion where everything comes out.
Suspending disbelief is a must for this enjoyable thriller, combo soap opera and film noir. The woman's touch is more prevalent here than normal. Stanwyck seems a bit older than the character is, so that's the first thing to suspend, then of course the situation aboard the train, and the arrival of the former lover just as Stanwyck is settling into her new life. Too many things happen that could cause Stanwyck to be exposed, but somehow, it is all overshadowed. That you end up liking this in spite of so many implausibilities is a credit to the writing, direction and acting. Add in a much altered remake ("Mrs. Winterbourne") with Rikki Lake in the Stanwyck role (now that is a trivia question in itself!) and you've got a lot to talk about with other film buffs.
Film Noir elements are subtle but explode with Bettger and Stanwyck's elopement scene, her visit to the other side of the tracks to confront him, and of course, the conclusion where everything comes out.