Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
RipDelight
This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
Bergorks
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
Gary
The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.
jjnxn-1
Mild thriller with Katharine Hepburn miscast in the lead. Story of a somewhat sheltered young woman, attractive but with no particular personal style. She's swept off her feet by the dashing Taylor who remakes her in the image of a chic sophisticate that suits his position as an important personality. Everything seems fine until she starts to notice small cracks in the persona he shows to the world until he reveals himself a psychotic nut job with brother issues.It's all a bit lurid with Minnelli, in a departure from musicals, a bit off in his pacing. The big surprise though is that Robert Taylor is better in the film than Kate. It's not that she's bad just the wrong actress for the weak sister she's playing, Joan Fontaine, Anne Baxter or Geraldine Fitzgerald would all have been better suited to the part. Taylor on the other hand, while never a great actor, handles the suave heel with the dangerous edge very well. Another glaring mismatch is Hepburn and Mitchum. He was just starting out and the two clashed off screen, with her dressing him down and he as usual not caring what she thought. They share zero chemistry on screen, you can actually sense their mutual distaste for each other in the film. A major flaw since he's supposed to be her dream man. An okay movie but a minor film for all.
trimpe-456-869588
I actually watched this movie 2 times, trying to make myself like it as well as understand it. Hepburn in love with a ghost (or unattainable)person? Taylor being upset because of this threat to him (Hepburn's love for him)? Much ado about nothing. Not believable. It seemed to me that there was a huge attempt at making this appear like a movie of great mystery, intrigue and suspense. And it just fell short. It never seemed to kick in/get itself going. I stuck with it to see if it was ever going to "get itself going", but unfortunately for me, it did not. I thought Jayne Meadows was brilliant in this. Wise gal, hardened and savvy. Too bad she didn't make more movies during her career. although I'm glad she found happiness with entertainer husband Steve Allen.
T Y
A mousy pushover with no self-confidence (Katherine Hepburn !??) finds herself married to a Senator with a hidden past (Jane Eyre?), who seems to be trying to kill her (Hitchcock's "Suspicion?"). She is NOT to go near his other house, NOT to ask about his brother, and NOT to play that piano piece (Rebeccca?). Hepburn (not talented) and Minelli (talented) are on their individual genius tracks, and are not about to be constrained by a mere Noir genre piece. They both become too distracted by self-expression, to turn in a good product. Undercurrent comes out flat & inept. Having allowed Hepburn to be miscast, Minelli demurs and allows her to stamp her "strong woman in pants" thing on everything in sight. Likewise, from his history of allowing men to become standard-issue, receding wallflowers in a series of women's films, he doesn't notice that his leading man (Robert Taylor) brings too little firepower to offset Hepburn. Taylor is completely two-dimensional and adrift, and he's blown off the screen every second they're paired up. He's totally "second banana" material. The most rapt viewer cannot correct that imbalance in their head, and we never perceive any threat in the scenario. Ultimately, the story goes such run-of-the-mill places that it never validates the star power it's hired. It just kind of sits there taking forever to make its point.
s c
Why does this film have a 6.3? Even the most cruel critic would give it a higher grade. There are many reasons why it should have, at least, a 7.To start with, the performances are incredible. There are some people here who criticize K. Hepburn's performance, when it is very good, very funny at the start and increasingly good as the film develops. Robert Taylor is absolutely excellent. Robert Mitchum doesn't appear in much of the film, but he acts his part perfectly.This film is directed by a great director, Vincente Minelli, who never disappoints and gives the film a quick, captivating pace. This film has a lot in common with "Rebecca", which is only a little better. All in all, a film well worth watching.
