An amateurish screenplay and some one-dimensional characterizations dominate this ridiculous thriller where a not-quite so thin man had a brief attempt (2 films in a 3 year period) at a series that never got off the ground. It all starts with the murder of a ham actor who was leading on the stepdaughter of an old flame, and that old flame's ousting by the jealous step-daughter from her father's home. Donna Reed, future Oscar Winner for "From Here to Eternity", gives an entirely too impish and testy performance, snarling as if she were preparing for an audition to play Veda in "Mildred Pierce". Ann Harding and Edward Arnold fare better but the best performance is by a German Shepherd named Friday, obviously given the role since Asta was unavailable.
It's obvious from the get-go where this film is going, basically a dime store novel whose structure earned a quick read after being bought on the close-out shelves but ultimately ended up in a thrift shop once that initial read was completed. For MGM to have commissioned this as a screenplay with a cast of former "A" stars seems misguided with its preposterous story, ridiculously melodramatic writing and cartoon villains (a la Boris and Natasha) drawing groans.
It's obvious from the get-go where this film is going, basically a dime store novel whose structure earned a quick read after being bought on the close-out shelves but ultimately ended up in a thrift shop once that initial read was completed. For MGM to have commissioned this as a screenplay with a cast of former "A" stars seems misguided with its preposterous story, ridiculously melodramatic writing and cartoon villains (a la Boris and Natasha) drawing groans.