I was hoping for a better film here, starting promising but not moving into the direction I hope it was heading. Teresa Wright is a lower class British girl, estranged from puritanical father Reginald Owen who has a job in a music hall show but longs for a life of respectability. Along with friend Virginia Field, she maneuvers an invitation for "tea" from an upper class gentleman (Ray Milland) whom she overhears giving a liberal political speech. One night hiding from the police hiding out in the flat of pianist Anthony Quinn comes back to haunt her after she marries Milland and Quinn is put on trial for murder. Wright becomes a major witness in the defense, and ultimately a "lady of scandal".
While handsome and well photographed, this bland drama is filled with a ton of plot holes and is often dull and humorless. I was hoping that Wright's low class girl would become a Margaret Lockwood like schemer, but she's unfortunately not all that interesting. Character actors Cedric Hardwicke and Melville Cooper are good in supporting roles, but the set-up for Milland's rising politician is never realized after a great start. Quinn has the potential of being the most interesting character, but most of the plot holes end up pulling his character into the abyss.
What appears to be an arty film in concept is sadly a near misfire, dry and dull in spite of great potential. That explains why this is rather obscure today, and while Wright was hot at the time, she seems shoved into this because Paulette Goddard was not available. It's professionally put together, but lackluster direction by Lewis Allen (who only directed a tiny number of memorable films) seems to be the main issue.
While handsome and well photographed, this bland drama is filled with a ton of plot holes and is often dull and humorless. I was hoping that Wright's low class girl would become a Margaret Lockwood like schemer, but she's unfortunately not all that interesting. Character actors Cedric Hardwicke and Melville Cooper are good in supporting roles, but the set-up for Milland's rising politician is never realized after a great start. Quinn has the potential of being the most interesting character, but most of the plot holes end up pulling his character into the abyss.
What appears to be an arty film in concept is sadly a near misfire, dry and dull in spite of great potential. That explains why this is rather obscure today, and while Wright was hot at the time, she seems shoved into this because Paulette Goddard was not available. It's professionally put together, but lackluster direction by Lewis Allen (who only directed a tiny number of memorable films) seems to be the main issue.