Talented cellist Karel Novak (Paul Henreid) has come to the US after the end of WW2 to tour. He reconnects with his old flame, gifted pianist Christine Radcliffe (Bette Davis). The two quickly rekindle their romance and get married, much to the annoyance of Christine's former secret lover and benefactor, famed composer Alexander Hollenius (Claude Rains). Hollenius offers to make Novak a solo star in his new orchestra, but Christine knows the jealous Hollenius is up to no good. Speaking of jealousy, Karel suspects that his wife had a sugar daddy while he was trapped in occupied Europe, and he accuses her and gets to the brink of violent with her when he sees all of the expensive things in her apartment that she attributes to tutoring wealthy pupils. She realizes this and that is why she lies to him. about the money and about her friendship with Hollenius which was much more than that.
This is fun, if overblown, romantic melodrama, not unlike a soap opera in sophisticated dressing. Davis is starting to slip into her overly-mannered screen persona that became a common source of impersonations. She still does some good, subtler work later in the film, as things fall apart for her. Rains chews up the scenery as the dastardly Hollenius, and he seems to be having the most fun. The score by Erich Wolgang Korngold is suitably bombastic or brooding, when needed. This was Bette Davis' first financial flop in nearly 15 years of stardom. I think time has redeemed it.
This is fun, if overblown, romantic melodrama, not unlike a soap opera in sophisticated dressing. Davis is starting to slip into her overly-mannered screen persona that became a common source of impersonations. She still does some good, subtler work later in the film, as things fall apart for her. Rains chews up the scenery as the dastardly Hollenius, and he seems to be having the most fun. The score by Erich Wolgang Korngold is suitably bombastic or brooding, when needed. This was Bette Davis' first financial flop in nearly 15 years of stardom. I think time has redeemed it.