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More than half a century later, I found this film still moving and still relevant. One can pretend that the world and women's lives have been transformed but even now, this rings true. Women who divorce often do not have an easy time with rebuilding and even though this film made the wife a bit too unsympathetic and the husband too "nice," plenty of forty-something men leave wives who helped them through school and difficult times to go find a younger, fresher edition. I lived it, without all the exaggerations and transparent walls, but with two daughters and a remarried ex-husband. This film spoke to me and I would say that with a bit of truth-telling, there would be a chorus of ayes from those who can do more than imagine feeling the wife's loss and hostility at the husband who betrayed their youth -- perhaps even more than she did by being ambitious. I would like to report that the present is a new world and for some it is, for many, it is not and the great Ms. Davis' eyes tell truth.

I do not believe I watched the whole thing. I tried. I really, really tried. I tried to like something of it but let's face it. This isn't Gary Cooper and this isn't High Noon and no one is going to Yuma. What a politicized mess. tell me something I don't already know. Bad guys are bad and good guys are good and bad girls are good too. Glad we got that straight. Now let's get on to the trashing of normal everyday folks to Dalton can be happy in his red diaper. Feel better now? Good. I think this one belongs back in the drawer. Back of the drawer. If you want to watch a western, there are many better ones readily available. This one is not worth the time. Sterling is better served in his other ventures and so are the others in the cast. Even if you only have one station and this is the only thing on, read a book. Rent Sparticus. Don't bother with this waste of film and effort all around.

I remember Susan Hayward as my father's very favorite actress. He never said anything specific about why but when her movie was on the TV, he wouldn't budge. I feel the same way. This movie is a favorite of mine even though it breaks my heart because it shows off her beauty, her talent and does it without relying on spectacle. It relies on her eyes and her smile and her tears. The story is sad but the true loveliness of the performance is that even in her harder and unkinder moments, one sees the personality, the emotional wealth beneath and it touches the heart. I do so love this movie that I was very happy to see others share the emotional connection. Dana Andrews ain't bad either. In fact, the whole cast is great but Ms. Hayward, now there was a star. She and Barbara Stanwyck had what women today don't see on the screen. Style, substance and dimension. Wow.