This film may be the inspiration of every Lifetime “dying woman” chick flick ever made. That doesn’t make this film bad though. You can’t slight something good for the bad things it spawns.
Judith Traherne (Bette Davis, NOW, VOYAGER) is a young socialite, who lives a carefree lifestyle of wealth and privilege. She fills her days with her friends Ann King (Geraldine Fitzgerald, WUTHERING HEIGHTS) and Alec Hamm (Ronald Reagan, KINGS ROW) partying and arguing with her horse trainer Michael O’Leary (Humphrey Bogart, TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE). She a good-hearted person and brings cheer to any room she enters. But she starts having headaches and vision problems, which led to a riding accident. The handsome Dr. Frederick Steele (George Brent, JEZEBEL) operates on her, but learns that he has only alleviated her symptoms, but can do nothing about saving her life. Complicating matters, Judy falls in love with her doctor.
This is the plot that soap operas born from — rich dying woman falling for her handsome, kind doctor. What makes this film good is Bette Davis. She has an amazing ability to brighten the screen with her presence as well as play the melodramatic role with the right note of natural believability and drama. She makes you care about the main character. Fitzgerald and Brent add to our love for Judy, because they love her. Bogart and Reagan’s characters add a bit of color.
The story is straightforward with no trumped up drama provided by a villain. The story is simply about a woman and her loved ones coping with her impending death. Davis shows her enormous range. She is like a chameleon, changing her physical reactions and tone for every character she plays. This is a solid straightforward melodrama that is elevated by the iconic Bette Davis.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
