Alex da Silva Rosalind Russell (Valerie) plays an actress who is fed up of doing as she is told by mentor and romantic partner Leon Ames (Dunning). She wants to break free from comedic plays and tackle more serious parts. She also wants to end her romantic liaison with Ames and head off with architect Leo Genn (Morrell). She confronts Ames at the beginning of the film and a few minutes later we have a murder for detective Sydney Greenstreet (Danbury) to look into.It's a strange mix. We have a happy musical credit sequence at the beginning which leads into the dramatic confrontation and murder at the film's beginning. What's this about? Unfortunately, the acting is uninteresting with the women being fragile and therefore showing no interesting qualities. They are just resigned to their fate. Go to the bottom of the class Rosalind Russell and Claire Trevor who plays fellow actress and rival Marian. When Sydney Greenstreet appears, we get some hope in terms of storyline, and he adds comedy into the mix. He always manages to portray a sinister character. Does he know more than he lets on?The copy I watched had some pixel interference and the lip synching fell out of line so there were moments of unwanted hilarity of masterful ventriloquism. This would normally annoy the hell out of me but it actually scores the film a mark in this instance. Rosalind Russell is poor in the lead.

MartinHafer When this film begins, Valerie Stanton (Rosalind Russell) is in the office of Gordon Dunning (Leon Ames). Dunning is insisting that he MUST have her or he will destroy her. Dunning is VERY intense and vaguely threatening. Stanton is obviously afraid of him and ends up accidentally killing him in self-defense. However, she does NOT tell the police but tries to see if she can get away with it. Since there is no doubt that Valerie did it, you might wonder how they fill the rest of the movie. After all, the killing happens in just the first few minutes of the film. Well, part of the film consists of Valerie having a flashback where she thinks about all the things that led up to the killing. The rest consists of the police investigation headed by the Captain (Sidney Greenstreet). However, where it all goes is not what I would have expected--and I appreciate that. In particular, since Valerie was doing the play "Hedda Gabler", I assumed the film would end the same as the play.The film has a very nice script, as it explores human nature and has plenty of twists and turns. Additionally, the acting and direction are quite intelligently done--making it a nice movie for adult tastes. Of the actors, by the way, my favorite was Greenstreet, as he plays against type and his performance is smooth and believable. Overall, a very nice film.

utgard14 Despite what the terrible opening theme song might lead you to believe, this is not a romantic comedy. Rosalind Russell plays a Broadway actress who has a heated argument with her producer (and former lover) and kills him. Through flashbacks, Roz looks back on the events that led up to this. Unfortunately this is all pretty dull. It does pick up some when Sydney Greenstreet's police captain shows up. But it never becomes more than a time-passer.I suppose this was Russell's attempt at a movie like Mildred Pierce or The Letter but it's not on the level of those classics. There isn't much of a mystery and consequently little suspense. Roz is OK but a little overwrought. Not her best work. Claire Trevor does fine but she really deserved a better part. Sydney Greenstreet steals every scene he's in. Roz's wardrobe is the movie's real star.

Neil Doyle ROSALIND RUSSELL is a stage actress who accidentally murders a lecherous producer (LEON AMES) in this melodramatic show biz story that has Russell trapped in a web of deception after killing Ames. Their stormy relationship is revealed in flashbacks as Russell thinks back on what led up to the murder.Unfortunately, Russell lends not a velvet touch to the proceedings, but an artificial one. Her stage actress is full of Russell's most studied mannerisms, including shifty-eyed side glances whenever pangs of guilt are displayed. She's all artifice, but because she's playing a stage actress I suppose it's forgivable. Still, a little less posturing and more real acting would have helped.CLAIRE TREVOR, as her rival on and off the stage, does a less mannered job as the hard-boiled other woman. LEO GENN is the architect who never goes to the theater and doesn't know Russell at all. It is he who comes between Ames and Russell once she decides she loves him.Some of the plot contrivances are not exactly believable. Genn's sudden interest in the actress is one of them, as is their quickly falling in love. Forty-five minutes into the story SYDENY GREENSTREET makes his appearance to investigate the case and from this point on interest in the outcome mounts steadily as the investigation goes forward.But the whole story is hardly handled with any subtlety. No melodramatic moment is overlooked by actress Russell or director John Gage. And that goes for the cat-and-mouse game Greenstreet plays with Russell. He plays his role with finesse, but it's the script that finally defeats everyone, especially Russell whose guilt complex is overplayed throughout.Summing up: Interesting with some good moments but obvious. Trevor and Greenstreet steal the show, but Genn is wasted and Russell is ultimately a disappointment.Trivia note: Expensive theater tickets were $4.80 in 1948.