Ambulance driver Frank Jessup (Robert Mitchum) arrives after Mrs. Tremayne is poisoned. He meets her hysterical step-daughter Diane (Jean Simmons). They go out to dinner and she schemes to get rid of his girlfriend. She maneuvers him to be her family's chauffeur. She has murderous intent against her stepmother. When her parents die in the malfunctioning car, she becomes the sole heir and the main suspect along with Frank.
Some of this is badly written. I don't see Mary having lunch with Diane who is a complete stranger. That scene should be the same conversation with Diane surprising Mary at her door. The writing is rather pulpy. I don't think the marriage idea works. Spousal privilege usually only starts on the wedding day. Quite frankly, I doubt that they wouldn't be convicted anyways. The movie is concentrating on the angel faced Jean Simmons set against the juxtaposition of her villainous actions. Robert Mitchum is sitting on the fence with her. He suspects her but still goes along. This may work more as a mystery if her villainy is not so in your face. As director Otto Preminger had set it up, she's like a sledgehammer pounding on the audience. It's an effective hammering without being melodramatic. I like it more than Laura.
Some of this is badly written. I don't see Mary having lunch with Diane who is a complete stranger. That scene should be the same conversation with Diane surprising Mary at her door. The writing is rather pulpy. I don't think the marriage idea works. Spousal privilege usually only starts on the wedding day. Quite frankly, I doubt that they wouldn't be convicted anyways. The movie is concentrating on the angel faced Jean Simmons set against the juxtaposition of her villainous actions. Robert Mitchum is sitting on the fence with her. He suspects her but still goes along. This may work more as a mystery if her villainy is not so in your face. As director Otto Preminger had set it up, she's like a sledgehammer pounding on the audience. It's an effective hammering without being melodramatic. I like it more than Laura.