Helen Chernen pushes her younger sister Katherine into show business in order to escape their small town poverty.
Acting
Ida Lupino's Helen — pure venom wrapped in sisterly concern.
Direction
Sherman frames ambition like a horror film creeping in.
Writing
Dialogue that stings: 'I made you, I can break you.'
Director
Vincent Sherman
Ida Lupino
Helen Chernen
Dennis Morgan
Paul Collins
Joan Leslie
Katherine 'Katie' Blaine
Jack Carson
Albert Runkel
Gladys George
Lily Emery
Paul Cavanagh
John 'Jack' Shagrue
Ann Doran
Dorshka (Uncredited)
Thurston Hall
Harry (Uncredited)
Nestor Paiva
Max Wade (Uncredited)
Joan Woodbury
Maria (Uncredited)
Roman Bohnen
Sam Chernen (Uncredited)
Leona Maricle
Laura Britton (Uncredited)
Ray Montgomery
Johnny Gilpin (Uncredited)
Libby Taylor
Essie (Uncredited)
Murray Alper
Joe Duglatz (Uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ida Lupino fought for this role after Warner Bros. kept casting her as victims; she produced her own films within five years.
The 'stage mother' archetype here influenced everything from Gypsy to Black Swan — but 1943 audiences were shocked by a woman this nakedly ambitious.
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