This film noir has an interesting setup. Well-known pianist Claudette Colbert is preparing to marry Robert Ryan and on their wedding day is confronted by evidence that she has married another man. There are a bunch of witnesses who can attest to this fact, including Justice of the Peace Percy Helton and cheap hotel maid Vivian Vance. Colbert ends up in a mental institution where she is treated by psychiatrist Elisabeth risdon while her aunt Jane Cowl and Ryan try to discover the truth.
Slow pace is both an aid and a hindrance in making this a memorable film, and as the secrets are revealed and the culprit revealed, it becomes more intriguing. Advance has particularly effective as the plain talking chambermaid who pays dearly for going against the perpetrators of this scheme to drive Colbert mad. Having appeared in many dramatic films and even a thriller ("Sleep My Love"), Colbert proves herself to be more than just a life comedian, but her character is depressing. She's effective in her mad scenes but it's not one of her most uplifting films. Still, it's a difficult film to dislike because it is intriguing and is one of those films that will have you drawn in spite of its faults.
Slow pace is both an aid and a hindrance in making this a memorable film, and as the secrets are revealed and the culprit revealed, it becomes more intriguing. Advance has particularly effective as the plain talking chambermaid who pays dearly for going against the perpetrators of this scheme to drive Colbert mad. Having appeared in many dramatic films and even a thriller ("Sleep My Love"), Colbert proves herself to be more than just a life comedian, but her character is depressing. She's effective in her mad scenes but it's not one of her most uplifting films. Still, it's a difficult film to dislike because it is intriguing and is one of those films that will have you drawn in spite of its faults.