What a film, 1940 must have been a lousy year for movies if this one got nominated for best picture. While it isn't all bad, it is it's own brand of cheese! The best performances are from James Stephenson and Sen Yung. Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall, who portrays her husband on screen ham it up for all it's worth. Set in Singapore in those long ago British Empire days, amidst the grandeur of the Rubber plantations our story unfolds. Here it is plain and simple. Bette opens the movie with shooting some guy named Jeffrey Hammond. She stands around looking dazed as natives all move in for a closer look. One is summoned to go and find the local law. While another goes to find happy Herbert, off at some remote place where they grow rubber. Oh the guy sent for the law, also gets the family lawyer. The investigation begins and soon Bette finds that she must be imprisoned until the trial. It looks like and open and shut case, for Bette claims the man she shot was after her body and wished to make passionate love to her. Herbert even mutters "Swine" in reference to the now bullet riddled Hammonds. Well it turns out there is a LETTER! A letter written by Bette to Hammonds asking him to come out to the plantation. This letter is in the possesion of Hammond's Eurasian wife. She says she wants money before she turns it over to Bette and her lawyer. I tell no more, because if you have gone this far to read about this movie you might want to be surprised. Watch it once and then say you did. Then see if you are able to ever watch it again.
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