Bette Davis is badly miscast as a frivolous coquette - who men are constantly throwing themselves at because she's such a radiant beauty. Even when she's married.
As a result, she gives an unusually artificial performance, with an annoyingly fake voice, and not a note of true human emotion. It feels like she's playing an actress playing a role - and not particularly well.
Claude Rains gives his typically strong and committed performance, but it's not enough to save this far-fetched melodrama.
Composer Franz Waxman is way off his game here as well, with startlingly intrusive music that insists on comedy when there is very little, and dramatic flourishes that insist on drama when there is none.
As a result, she gives an unusually artificial performance, with an annoyingly fake voice, and not a note of true human emotion. It feels like she's playing an actress playing a role - and not particularly well.
Claude Rains gives his typically strong and committed performance, but it's not enough to save this far-fetched melodrama.
Composer Franz Waxman is way off his game here as well, with startlingly intrusive music that insists on comedy when there is very little, and dramatic flourishes that insist on drama when there is none.