This is indisputably the best of Barbara Stanwyck's three films for English director Peter Godfrey and is infinitely the better of the two films he made with Errol Flynn.
Marjorie Carlton's novel was snapped up pretty quickly by Warner Bros as a vehicle for Stanwyck whilst her leading man was originally to have been Dennis Morgan so let us give thanks for small mercies. Errol Flynn never thought much of himself as an actor but of course he possessed star quality in spades and acquits himself well here in a role that requires him to be both menacing and rakish. The quality and consistency of Barbara Stanwyck's work, whatever the vehicle, is impressive although by all accounts this consummate professional invariably gave her best on the first take. The film also marks the beginning of the film careers of Geraldine Brooks and Richard Basehart whilst Viennese emigré Helene Thimig brings her presence to bear as the customary creepy housekeeper without whom an old dark house wouldn't be quite the same.
Films such as this rely heavily on atmosphere and of this there is certainly no shortage courtesy of Carl Guthrie's noirish lighting, fabulous art direction by Carl Jules Weyl and of course Franz Waxman's lush score. Stanwyck is once more shown to advantage by the costumes of Edith Head.
The pairing of the two leads is intriguing and works well but yet again it is Stanwyck's steely determination that carries the day and transcends the material. At one stage her character says "I'm not a placid girl". That Miss Stanwyck never was!
Marjorie Carlton's novel was snapped up pretty quickly by Warner Bros as a vehicle for Stanwyck whilst her leading man was originally to have been Dennis Morgan so let us give thanks for small mercies. Errol Flynn never thought much of himself as an actor but of course he possessed star quality in spades and acquits himself well here in a role that requires him to be both menacing and rakish. The quality and consistency of Barbara Stanwyck's work, whatever the vehicle, is impressive although by all accounts this consummate professional invariably gave her best on the first take. The film also marks the beginning of the film careers of Geraldine Brooks and Richard Basehart whilst Viennese emigré Helene Thimig brings her presence to bear as the customary creepy housekeeper without whom an old dark house wouldn't be quite the same.
Films such as this rely heavily on atmosphere and of this there is certainly no shortage courtesy of Carl Guthrie's noirish lighting, fabulous art direction by Carl Jules Weyl and of course Franz Waxman's lush score. Stanwyck is once more shown to advantage by the costumes of Edith Head.
The pairing of the two leads is intriguing and works well but yet again it is Stanwyck's steely determination that carries the day and transcends the material. At one stage her character says "I'm not a placid girl". That Miss Stanwyck never was!