I was looking forward to this old film because of its cast -- the lovely and talented Jeanne Crain, Madeleine Carroll, Richard Greene, and the always interesting George Sanders. Unfortunately, the first third of the film was rather disappointing...almost dull. But then, the mystery begins and things get far more interesting -- why is Richard Geene paying large sums of money to Madeleine Carroll? Is it an affair? Almost certainly...except that it isn't.
Jeanne Crain was, in my view, one of the loveliest actresses of her era, and she shines here, although I would say this film is more of an ensemble cast than a star vehicle. Madeleine Carroll -- in her last film -- is absolutely riveting here, not to mention mysterious. It's a rather odd film for George Sanders in that he's the character he so often played in the parts of the film that are flashbacks, but a very elderly gentleman for much of the story. Richard Greene, whose career pretty much stalled after the way, was still doing nicely here...a fine and underrated actor, though this is far from his best role.
I was a little disappointed at the end of the film that we have no idea what happened to Jeanne Crain and Richard Greene. Dead in the war? We never know.
Personally, I slightly preferred the 2004 film adaptation of the Oscar Wilde story -- "A Good Woman", which takes place in Italy. It starred Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Wilkinson. It had its own flaws, but it didn't suffer from the first third of the film being awkward. Although, I thought the rest of the Jeanne Crain version was better. Kind of a toss up, really.
Jeanne Crain was, in my view, one of the loveliest actresses of her era, and she shines here, although I would say this film is more of an ensemble cast than a star vehicle. Madeleine Carroll -- in her last film -- is absolutely riveting here, not to mention mysterious. It's a rather odd film for George Sanders in that he's the character he so often played in the parts of the film that are flashbacks, but a very elderly gentleman for much of the story. Richard Greene, whose career pretty much stalled after the way, was still doing nicely here...a fine and underrated actor, though this is far from his best role.
I was a little disappointed at the end of the film that we have no idea what happened to Jeanne Crain and Richard Greene. Dead in the war? We never know.
Personally, I slightly preferred the 2004 film adaptation of the Oscar Wilde story -- "A Good Woman", which takes place in Italy. It starred Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, and Tom Wilkinson. It had its own flaws, but it didn't suffer from the first third of the film being awkward. Although, I thought the rest of the Jeanne Crain version was better. Kind of a toss up, really.