Wide-eyed and poor young Leonora weds an obsessive millionaire named Ohlrig, but the marriage is loveless. Even worse, Ohlrig seems to have manic, violent tendencies. Eventually, young Leonora escapes her unhappy life and begins working with New York City doctor Larry Quinada, who she soon falls for. Unfortunately, Ohlrig refuses to grant his wife a divorce, and things get even darker for Leonora when she realizes she's pregnant with his child.
Direction
Ophüls' camera glides like a predator circling its prey.
Acting
Robert Ryan's Ohlrig: charming, terrifying, never raises his voice.
Director
Max Ophüls
James Mason
Larry Quinada
Barbara Bel Geddes
Leonora Eames
Robert Ryan
Smith Ohlrig
Frank Ferguson
Dr. Hoffman
Curt Bois
Franzi Kartos
Ruth Brady
Maxine
Natalie Schafer
Dorothy Dale
Art Smith
Psychiatrist
Barbara Billingsley
Store customer in flowered hat (uncredited)
Sonia Darrin
Miss Chambers (uncredited)
Bernadene Hayes
Mrs. Rudecki (uncredited)
Pamela Mason
Mrs. Fuller (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Shopper (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ophüls reportedly fought studio demands to soften Ohlrig's villainy; he wanted pure toxic masculinity, not melodramatic mustache-twirling.
Barbara Bel Geddes later became Miss Ellie on Dallas—imagine the Ewing matriarch as this desperate girl.
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