A hard-boiled middle-aged newspaper woman (Barbara Stanwyck) inexplicably falls for a police detective (Sterling Hayden) and gives up her career. Considering that they just met and then got married, it's not surprising that soon afterwords she would come to hate the banality of life in suburbia. She can't stand the life of a housewife and the dull friends--she wants more. So, this scheming and ambitious woman sets out to make changes in their lives--and her first order of business is to get her husband a more important job--even if he is quite content with his lot in life. So, she begins arranging 'coincidences' that help her get in good with the higher-ups at the force and thus improve the quality of their friendships. And, considering that Hayden isn't all that perceptive, she is able to manipulate him throughout the film and use other men (particularly Raymond Burr) for her wicked plans. But, when her plans don't go as she expects, she's even willing to kill!
This is a strange film noir-like film. The camera angles and elements of the plot are very noir, though it's highly unusual to make such a film without focusing on everyday criminals but the police. It's actually a noir and the 1940s/50s 'manipulative woman' genre combined (manipulative woman films are often associated with Joan Crawford though Stanwyck also made a few). I really enjoyed it and there was only one sour note--solving the crime at the end of the film was way too easy. There is no logical reason why Stanwyck would so readily admit to the killing. Still, it's an entertaining film from start to finish.
This is a strange film noir-like film. The camera angles and elements of the plot are very noir, though it's highly unusual to make such a film without focusing on everyday criminals but the police. It's actually a noir and the 1940s/50s 'manipulative woman' genre combined (manipulative woman films are often associated with Joan Crawford though Stanwyck also made a few). I really enjoyed it and there was only one sour note--solving the crime at the end of the film was way too easy. There is no logical reason why Stanwyck would so readily admit to the killing. Still, it's an entertaining film from start to finish.