I also think this is an excellent melodrama, although Joan Fontaine was completely unbelievable as the scheming Christabel. She was too fawning and too old to play such simpering innocence. How every man fell at her feet - there is a line in the film where, Donna, I think, comments on the men being over there "all kneeling" at Christabel's portrait. "All Kneeling" was the title of Anne Parrish's book that this film was based on. Joan Leslie is a different story. I have always felt Leslie was an under-rated actress, who, unfortunately, only came into her own at the end of her film career. In this film she, of course, plays the "good girl' (typpecasting she could never escape) but she has so much class and sophistication - she runs rings around Fontaine.
Christabel (Joan Fontaine) arrives early (and she knows it) in spite of her innocent protestations. She is expected at Donna's (Joan Leslie) the next day but comes in the middle of preparations for a big party. She then proceeds to charm the men at the party - especially Nick (Robert Ryan), a brooding writer, who sees in Christabel a cold ruthlessness that he can't resist. She really wants Curtis Carey (Zachery Scott - again proving his versatility), Donna's extremely wealthy fiancée. Christabel thinks he will give her the life she feels she deserves and Donna is a mere stepping stone.
Curtis wants to pick out an engagement present for Donna and Christabel, with a few "innocent" barbs about the expense of the present, manages to sow seeds of dissent between Curtis and Donna. Donna breaks her engagement and goes to London for a break. Uncle John (Harold Vermilyea) is the only who can see through Christabel and wants her to go back to her aunt. She wangles one more night and by the end of it is engaged to Curtis. She leaves behind an embittered Nick.
After her marriage Aunt Clara comes to stay and she and Curtis become great friends. Christabel breaks up their friendship and sends Aunt Clara packing!!! Christabel throws herself into a social whirl of committees and balls, then Aunt Clara becomes ill. She uses Aunt Clara's illness as an excuse to snatch a few hours with Nick before he goes away. Things go horribly wrong (for Christabel) when Clara dies and Curtis realises that Christabel has neglected her and lied to him. He also realises who he should have married all along.
Recommended.
Christabel (Joan Fontaine) arrives early (and she knows it) in spite of her innocent protestations. She is expected at Donna's (Joan Leslie) the next day but comes in the middle of preparations for a big party. She then proceeds to charm the men at the party - especially Nick (Robert Ryan), a brooding writer, who sees in Christabel a cold ruthlessness that he can't resist. She really wants Curtis Carey (Zachery Scott - again proving his versatility), Donna's extremely wealthy fiancée. Christabel thinks he will give her the life she feels she deserves and Donna is a mere stepping stone.
Curtis wants to pick out an engagement present for Donna and Christabel, with a few "innocent" barbs about the expense of the present, manages to sow seeds of dissent between Curtis and Donna. Donna breaks her engagement and goes to London for a break. Uncle John (Harold Vermilyea) is the only who can see through Christabel and wants her to go back to her aunt. She wangles one more night and by the end of it is engaged to Curtis. She leaves behind an embittered Nick.
After her marriage Aunt Clara comes to stay and she and Curtis become great friends. Christabel breaks up their friendship and sends Aunt Clara packing!!! Christabel throws herself into a social whirl of committees and balls, then Aunt Clara becomes ill. She uses Aunt Clara's illness as an excuse to snatch a few hours with Nick before he goes away. Things go horribly wrong (for Christabel) when Clara dies and Curtis realises that Christabel has neglected her and lied to him. He also realises who he should have married all along.
Recommended.