The wedding of Ellen and David is halted by a stranger who insists that the bride is already married to someone else. Though the flabbergasted Ellen denies the charge, the interloper produces enough evidence that his accusation must be investigated. Ellen and David travel to the small coastal town where her first wedding allegedly occurred. There, they meet a number of individuals whose stories make Ellen question her own sanity.
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Absolutely Brilliant!
Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Just saw it on TMC. The contents of the movie slowly aims at the aunt being the villain, with the motive of getting Ellen out of the way in order to gain an inheritance. I believe that for some unknown reason the writers came up with the implausible ending.I thought that the movie was pretty well done. I think the fight scene between Ryan and the killer was filmed in subdued lighting because of the use of a stand in for Ryan.Even though Ryan's '49 Buick was pretty big, it seemed that Ryan took a long time to realize that there was someone in the back seat. Also, how come when the Buick crashed into the trash cans there was no damage to the right front. I guess Buick were built pretty strong back then.
I didn't know what this film was about, but I watched it because I really enjoy Claudette Colbert. For the first few minutes I thought it was a comedy. The bridegroom can't get into the house because he doesn't look the part. Then, when the wedding party is asked, "If anyone here knows of any reason why this couple should not be wed...", and someone stands up and objects. Very quickly, however, it becomes clear it's not a comedy, and for the first third of the film we wonder what is going on here? Could the Colbert character really already have a husband and was about to commit bigamy? Not so far off a typical soap opera-ish 1940s drama. But then, suddenly, at the "jazz house", it becomes clear this is a 1950s film, and a very different tone emerges as it appears that Colbert has shot her first, secret husband. It becomes nearly film noir. And, the ending is a humdinger! Colbert is superb here, but this is not the Colbert you're used to seeing. Insane? She's in an asylum! Nervous breakdown? She's hysterical! A bravura performance.I don't typically like Robert Ryan, but in this film he's very good.This is a very solid mystery, not to be missed by Colbert fans.
When ever a film is produced or directed by Mel Ferrer, you can bet your life any of his pictures will be seen for generation after generation. Just having Claudette Colbert,(Ellen R. Ewing),"The Egg & I",'47 appearing and starring in the film will make it even more of a great Classic Film. In this film, Ellen Ewing gets married and then she encounters all kinds of mental problems and even murder. The mystery gets very much involved and Robert Ryan,(David McLean),"Battle of the Bulge",'65, comes to the aid of Ellen and sometimes you even wonder about David being on the up and up. As you view this picture you just about find yourself beginning to understand who is the real nutty person and all of a sudden, you begin to change your mind how the film will end. Great acting by Claudette Colbert and Robert Ryan who played an entirely different role than he usually portrays on the screen. I forgot to mention that Mel Ferrer, was married to a great film star, Audrey Hepburn. Great Classic film, with great Classic Actors !
I watched this late film noir last winter when it was on TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES. It is one of those "Gaslight" clones, where the villain seeks to drive the heroine insane for personal reasons. Usually, in GASLIGHT or SLEEP MY LOVE, the reason is that the heroine's husband seeks to get rid of his spouse, either for money or for another woman. Here the villain is not Robert Ryan (big surprise that!) but another man who has a grudge against the family of Claudette Colbert for an error in the past. I refrain from mentioning it, as it would spoil the film. Needless to say Ryan saves Colbert, and the villain (responsible for three deaths due to his plotting) meets an unexpectedly violent and scary end. The film is not a classic one, but it is worth watching, especially as Ryan is the hero here.
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