In a mansion in Caulfield, Illinois, Patrice Harkness (Barbara Stanwyck) and Bill Harkness (John Lund) are waiting for the police. Meanwhile, she recalls her life in San Francisco.
The eight-month pregnant Helen Ferguson (Barbara Stanwyck) is dumped by her boyfriend, the crook Stephen 'Steve' Morley (Lyle Bettger), who gives a train ticket to her to New York to stay with his new girlfriend. In the train, Helen befriends the also pregnant Patrice Harkness (Phyllis Thaxter) and her husband Hugh Harkness (Richard Denning) that are returning from Europe. When they go to the toilet, Patrice asks Helen to hold her wedding ring to avoid losing it, but there is an accident and only Helen survives. She is mistaken by the Hatkness family as being Patrice and welcomed by Mrs. Harkness (Jane Cowl), Mr. Harkness (Henry O'Neill) and Bill at home. Helen decides to pose of Patrice thinking in the future of her baby Hugh and the family treats her like a daughter. Out of the blue, Steve meets Helen in a club and blackmails her, promising to destroy the lives to Mr. and Mrs. Harkness. Now Helen realizes that she must kill Steve to protect her son and the old couple. What will she do?
"No Man of Her Own" is a top-notch film-noir, with magnificent direction and screenplay. Barbara Stanwyck is fantastic as usual; John Lund is also great; and Lyle Bettger is perfect in the role of a scum. The surprising melodramatic conclusion is to make the audience happy, with all the problems easily resolved. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Casei-me com um Morto" ("I Married a Dead Man")
The eight-month pregnant Helen Ferguson (Barbara Stanwyck) is dumped by her boyfriend, the crook Stephen 'Steve' Morley (Lyle Bettger), who gives a train ticket to her to New York to stay with his new girlfriend. In the train, Helen befriends the also pregnant Patrice Harkness (Phyllis Thaxter) and her husband Hugh Harkness (Richard Denning) that are returning from Europe. When they go to the toilet, Patrice asks Helen to hold her wedding ring to avoid losing it, but there is an accident and only Helen survives. She is mistaken by the Hatkness family as being Patrice and welcomed by Mrs. Harkness (Jane Cowl), Mr. Harkness (Henry O'Neill) and Bill at home. Helen decides to pose of Patrice thinking in the future of her baby Hugh and the family treats her like a daughter. Out of the blue, Steve meets Helen in a club and blackmails her, promising to destroy the lives to Mr. and Mrs. Harkness. Now Helen realizes that she must kill Steve to protect her son and the old couple. What will she do?
"No Man of Her Own" is a top-notch film-noir, with magnificent direction and screenplay. Barbara Stanwyck is fantastic as usual; John Lund is also great; and Lyle Bettger is perfect in the role of a scum. The surprising melodramatic conclusion is to make the audience happy, with all the problems easily resolved. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "Casei-me com um Morto" ("I Married a Dead Man")