If any film demonstrates that an actor can make or break a movie, this is it. The scriptwriters deliver Cary Grant a poor hand - a plodding, ham-fisted drama which rushes from climax to climax, before abruptly ending without any real resolution or conclusion. However, Mr Grant single-handedly salvages the entire enterprise, aided by a delightful set design - his blockbuster performance successfully draws the viewer away from the plot, to focus on his character alone.
Virtually all the tension delivered in this film is produced by Cary Grant - a cold stare, a few harsh words, a powerful stride. He is a joy to watch, and the manufactured and phony attempts at drama the script shoehorns in only highlight how poor they are in comparison. With a better script, this film could have been a marvel - as it stands, it is an excellent showpiece for Mr Grant's talents, and an object lesson to aspiring actors (and scriptwriters, for that matter) everywhere.
Virtually all the tension delivered in this film is produced by Cary Grant - a cold stare, a few harsh words, a powerful stride. He is a joy to watch, and the manufactured and phony attempts at drama the script shoehorns in only highlight how poor they are in comparison. With a better script, this film could have been a marvel - as it stands, it is an excellent showpiece for Mr Grant's talents, and an object lesson to aspiring actors (and scriptwriters, for that matter) everywhere.