JohnHowardReid This one is a lavishly and glossily produced weepie melodrama, full of the usual tried and true plot devices. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the situations are even less convincing than the average. On the other hand, it does have a remarkable flashback sequence where the off-screen commentary (by Barbara Stanwyck) is impishly biting and satirical. Most of the players are also more convincing than we might expect. Barbara is delightfully cool and assured in a tailor-made role. She has the lion's share of the action as well as the most fetching costumes. George Brent, on the other hand, starts well but soon reverts to type. On the other hand, it's always a pleasure to watch players like Gene Lockhart and Donald Crisp go through their paces. Donald Woods has an impressive opening scene, but then unaccountably disappears from the action altogether. But most impressive of all is young Larry Simms, of all people ("Alexander" in the Blondie series), who gives a surprisingly skilled and realistic portrayal in a rare dramatic part. P.S. I would describe Erville Alderson's role as that of a witness rather than a farmer.

vincentlynch-moonoi Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this film is that supporting actor Gig Young, became Gig Young after appearing as the character Gig Young in this film.Aside from that, it's a very watchable film, although there's something that -- to me -- doesn't seem quite logical. It begins with three sisters whose mother is killed on the Lusitania. Then, in a sentimental scene, their army officer father goes off to World War I and is killed in action. The film then picks up with the adult sisters fighting in court for their inheritance against antagonist Charles Barclay (George Brent), who argues against the original will based on a later will. From there the story rambles from the love-hate relationship between Brent and Stanwyck and the romantic triangle between the other two sisters and Gig Young. What is this film? A farce, a comedy, a soapy drama? The director doesn't seem to be quite sure.If there's any reason to watch this film, it's not the script...but perhaps it is the performances. Barbara Stanwyck is not a very likable character here, although given the script, she plays it well. For a great deal of the first half of the film, George Brent doesn't have a lot to do, even though his character is key to the plot. Geraldine Fitzgerald is fine as one of the sisters, as is Nancy Coleman. Donald Crisp has a rather nice supporting role as a lawyer, and I couldn't help but think what a versatile character actor he was. Gene Lockhart plays a kiss-ass lawyer.Not a great film...a flawed script...but decent acting. Not one for the DVD shelf, but perhaps worth one watch when it's on TCM.

gkeith_1 I thought this movie was a Betty Grable-or-someone movie, maybe The Dolly Sisters type movie, or some song and dance 1942 outing to relieve the seriousness of wartime, but boy was I mistaken. Still, finding out that it was a drama piece actually good by Barbara Stanwyck standards, I decided to watch it. That is, after I turned on the DVR recording and found out the drama part by the host's introduction. I was intrigued enough to watch. I found the movie very interesting and impossible to stop watching. It started out with the Lusitania disaster and a wealthy woman's being killed on that unfortunate ship. Next, a World War I era soldier, in a wealthy mansion, was signing his last will and testament before he went off to war to get even with those enemies who torpedoed the ship. I looked for officer's insignia on his uniform, but didn't see any. I assumed that being so wealthy, he wouldn't just be an enlisted man. Turns out he was a major. Anyway, he meets his demise after going off to the front in World War One, and his three minor daughters are orphans. The woman killed on the Lusitania was his wife and the girls' mother. Next thing we know, the girls are grown up and supposedly penniless. An evil bad guy is trying to take away their mansion, and we spend most of the film seeing people trying to avoid him. He is successful and handsome, a namesake of our current basketball guy Charles Barclay/Barkley (?). The sisters have secrets from each other. All have been married. The eldest secretly married the bad guy, and had a child as a result of the first night of the marriage. The second sister married an English lord, but he is on the other side of the pond while she makes a play for the youngest sister's boyfriend. The youngest sister is married but trying to get an annulment while messing around with Gig Young (played by Gig Young, lol #^$%%r!!!). Later she says she got an annulment with some money, apparently to pay a lawyer, but it is fuzzy as to how this happened. I will leave plot holes to the other reviewers. Anyway, her marriage is over, and does she marry Gig Young? I don't know. The middle sister: her husband dies in a British plane crash, but she is SOL with Gig Young as he is in love with the youngest. As for the oldest, Fiona (Barbara Stanwyck), first she supposedly divorced (??) the bad guy, then at the end he says he's still her husband. Supposedly they marry/re-marry/cohabitate (??), and plan to live with the son they finally admit to having. Poor little kid. He wanted Gig Young for his uncle. I thought the monkey in the zoo was really cute. This movie was funny, maudlin, historic, etc. I enjoyed all the lawyers, especially Donald Crisp and Gene Lockhart.

Bob F. When you have three fine actresses like Barbara Stanwyck, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Nancy Coleman, plus an intelligent script, and a good director, you have a very watchable movie. What makes the film particularly good is, that it concentrates on lives of each of the three sisters. Yes, it is a chick flick, but as a man, I found it quite engaging. The one weakness of the film, is George Brent, he lacks sexuality. But, the important point is, that it is an interesting story line, with complexity, and sophistication.