This is a very odd little film in many ways. Although Warren William's character is a lot like many other characters he played (here he is yet again a rich industrialist), his motivations and actions seem very indecisive and weak--as well as very, very inconsistent. At first, he is shown in some nice family scenes with the cute and scene-stealing Dickie Moore. However, while these scenes show that William loved his young boy, just a bit later this good father is chasing after young Ginger Rogers like a dog responding to the sound of a can of dog food being opened! All this in spite of the fact he's married to Mary Astor and loves the boy. Sure, it's pretty clear that Astor is too busy with her society friends and that is much of the reason for William's wandering eye, but still it just didn't seem to fit in with the fatherly image at the beginning.
Later, William's character became an even greater enigma. When Ginger is killed by a scumbag intent on blackmailing William, William grabs a gun and plugs the evil jerk. This is tough to believe, but he really was innocently defending himself--yet he then behaved stupidly and tried to cover up his involvement--and it's done in a very sloppy manner. Then, once this occurs, he still acted so indecisive and dumb that it's hard to feel sorry for the man. Yet, inexplicably, even though he grossly tampered with evidence, he's acquitted of all charges in the end and he and his family are seen in a tender familial scene! This happy ending just made very little sense to me.
As a "Pre-Code" film, it was pretty tame--so tame that it wasn't all that interesting. On one hand, the film is about adultery, but then later it becomes a family values film even after the double-killing--like the producers weren't sure whether to make this a sexy thriller or a conventional soap opera. What I strongly suspect is that this film was in production just as the strengthened Production Code was being adopted--forcing changes to the script to conform to the family-friendly Code. Because of this, the film seems to be in limbo--not juicy or sleazy enough to be Pre-Code but also very confusing and filled with sexual innuendo! In the end, because it is such a mixed bag, the film is just a time-passer. William and the rest simply made better films that you should probably see first--save this one for when you've seen A LOT of films and are willing to accept second best!
Later, William's character became an even greater enigma. When Ginger is killed by a scumbag intent on blackmailing William, William grabs a gun and plugs the evil jerk. This is tough to believe, but he really was innocently defending himself--yet he then behaved stupidly and tried to cover up his involvement--and it's done in a very sloppy manner. Then, once this occurs, he still acted so indecisive and dumb that it's hard to feel sorry for the man. Yet, inexplicably, even though he grossly tampered with evidence, he's acquitted of all charges in the end and he and his family are seen in a tender familial scene! This happy ending just made very little sense to me.
As a "Pre-Code" film, it was pretty tame--so tame that it wasn't all that interesting. On one hand, the film is about adultery, but then later it becomes a family values film even after the double-killing--like the producers weren't sure whether to make this a sexy thriller or a conventional soap opera. What I strongly suspect is that this film was in production just as the strengthened Production Code was being adopted--forcing changes to the script to conform to the family-friendly Code. Because of this, the film seems to be in limbo--not juicy or sleazy enough to be Pre-Code but also very confusing and filled with sexual innuendo! In the end, because it is such a mixed bag, the film is just a time-passer. William and the rest simply made better films that you should probably see first--save this one for when you've seen A LOT of films and are willing to accept second best!