Although it will forever be known as the movie that relaunched Joan Crawford's flagging career, there is much more to this classic "woman's picture" than an Oscar-winning performance. While it reworks the original plot, Ranald MacDougall's script retains the sharp edge of James M Cain's novel (this is as much film noir as soap opera), while Michael Curtiz's cool direction keeps the action moving and Crawford, Ann Blyth and Zachary Scott away from caricature. Ernest Haller's moody photography and Anton Grot's sets (which, at a glance, convey Mildred's changing social status) are also outstanding. Screen suffering was never so sophisticated yet unsentimental. DP

Radio Times Guide to Films