Paulette Kenyon

Even though I guessed the ending, I still enjoyed this film and the acting. All through the film, I kept saying to the wife, "why not just dump him?" It was so clear he hated her and wanted her dead. Because of Louis Hayward's unsubtle performance, I demoted it one star. I loved Richard Basehart's gentle character and really loved the wardrobe on Joan Leslie's character, Sheila. I love the way they fixed her hair too. I know that has nothing to do with the quality of the film; but, it added to the enjoyment for me. I thought she was really easy to watch; and, sometimes, she reminded me of Gale Storm. It was a film ahead of it's time showing the friendship between Sheila and William, a clearly gay gentleman, imprisoned probably for his sexuality; although the film doesn't say. Even when Sheila and William had every chance to change the trajectory of the year, it seemed that they were destined for a similar outcome. The entire film kept my attention; never got bored. The other actors were good too. Virginia Field played a good rat; Natalie Schafer was believable as a debauched arts benefactor, and Tom Conway was elegant and calming to the characters and the audience; giving us hope that it would all come out alright in the end.