110 minute running time … brilliant Technicolor, I wouldn’t call it a “film noir” … this was a weird one, weird and wonderful first three quarters, which reminded me of Nightmare Alley … the final quarter of the movie (the court scenes) sort of ruined everything that came before … Gene Tierney was a great beauty, and having her play a psychopath was a stroke of genius … really dark stuff here, must have been incredibly shocking for 1945 (like Nightmare Alley was for 1947) … wish the last quarter was better, it’s a pity that it spoils it, maybe Zanuck meddled once again and messed everything up … was John Stahl gay? Was the cinematographer? Gay Russian Jews, maybe? It’s pretty brilliant, but at the same time I’m going to hold off from a green-go rating for now given the unfortunate courtroom scenes ending.

Bosley hated it. Tony Lane also not thrilled, but a little kinder.