I'd like to wonder how Susan Peters felt doing this film three years after a shooting accident paralyzed her for the rest of her brief life.
I remember "Written on the Wind," (1956) where a vicious sister destroys her brother's happiness.
Peters portrays a woman who married a widower (Alexander Knox) only to be paralyzed in an accident when she tried to help 2 step-daughters caught in an undertow.
As a result, Peters becomes a manipulative, vicious woman who does everything to bring misery to the lives of these children and others around her orbit. This misery even extends to her newly hired secretary, the usually reliable Phyllis Thaxter.
Knox is terribly miscast in the part of the husband. He offers no real strength to the role. Perhaps, I feel like this because of the outstanding performance he gave in 1944's "Wilson" and as the supportive doctor to Roz Russell in 1949's "Sister Kenny." In this film, Knox was depicted more like a true philosopher then a husband victimized by her selfish-vicious actions.
The picture is certainly all about Peters. She does receive ample support from Peggy Ann Garner, as a victimized step-daughter.
The melodramatic ending is appropriate but you want more to happen.
I remember "Written on the Wind," (1956) where a vicious sister destroys her brother's happiness.
Peters portrays a woman who married a widower (Alexander Knox) only to be paralyzed in an accident when she tried to help 2 step-daughters caught in an undertow.
As a result, Peters becomes a manipulative, vicious woman who does everything to bring misery to the lives of these children and others around her orbit. This misery even extends to her newly hired secretary, the usually reliable Phyllis Thaxter.
Knox is terribly miscast in the part of the husband. He offers no real strength to the role. Perhaps, I feel like this because of the outstanding performance he gave in 1944's "Wilson" and as the supportive doctor to Roz Russell in 1949's "Sister Kenny." In this film, Knox was depicted more like a true philosopher then a husband victimized by her selfish-vicious actions.
The picture is certainly all about Peters. She does receive ample support from Peggy Ann Garner, as a victimized step-daughter.
The melodramatic ending is appropriate but you want more to happen.