Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Jemima It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

seymourblack-1 The star of this movie (Rosalind Russell) and its producer (who was also Russell's husband), created "Independent Artists Ltd" and for their first production, selected a story about a murder that was committed because of the conflict that existed between a top actress and her producer!! Fortunately, this wasn't autobiographical and provided the basis for an entertaining melodrama that features a colourful collection of characters, a wonderfully witty script and an on-going sense of tension that's created because of the circumstances of the murder and its unexpected repercussions. Guilt, jealousy and bitterness are just a few of the emotions that fuel the passions of the story's main characters and ensure that what takes place behind the scenes at a Broadway theatre, is every bit as the dramatic as anything that takes place on stage.For the last ten years, top Broadway star Valerie Stanton (Rosalind Russell) and her producer, Gordon Dunning (Leon Ames) have worked together on a series of light comedies that have all been highly successful. Problems arise, however, when their latest hit comes to the end of its run and Valerie decides that she wants to develop her career by taking on more serious roles. In Gordon's office, the two ex-lovers get into a heated argument because he doesn't want to end their relationship (personally or professionally). In his desperation, he also threatens to reveal some unflattering information about her past which would undoubtedly threaten her current relationship with Michael Morrell (Leo Genn) who's a well-respected architect. As their argument starts to become more physical, Valerie picks up a statuette from Gordon's desk and hits him over the head with it and then, recognising that she's killed him, leaves the theatre shortly after.Marian Webster (Claire Trevor), who had regularly been one of Valerie's co-stars during her association with Gordon, discovers the producer's dead body and is heartbroken because she'd been his lover until Valerie came along and had remained in love with him ever since. Her distress is so great that she immediately falls into a deep state of shock and has to be hospitalised. When the police investigation begins, Captain Danbury (Sydney Greenstreet) is assigned to the case and Marian Webster becomes the prime suspect because her fingerprints are the only ones found on the statuette. Unfortunately, because of her condition, Marian isn't well enough to be questioned by the police and so Danbury pursues his investigation by calling the whole theatre group together to discuss what they knew about what had transpired in Gordon's office. Nothing new seems to emerge from this process and so Marian Webster remains under suspicion and it seems that Valerie's going to get away with murder.During the weeks that follow, Valerie becomes increasingly tormented by the guilt she feels about what's happened to Marian (despite the fact that the two women hate each other) and is also fearful about whether the police will discover that she's Gordon's killer. This makes her rehearsals for Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" extremely challenging and also makes it uncertain whether she'll ever be able to achieve her ultimate ambition and prove herself as a serious actress.Rosalind Russell and Claire Trevor are both superb in their roles with Russell doing a great job of making her character's anguish recognisable whilst still conducting herself with her usual confidence. Leon Ames is brilliantly cast as the shrewd producer who has some cynical attitudes to the whole notion of love and Leo Genn is incredibly smug as the architect who patronises Valerie from the very first time he meets her. The outstanding performance, however, comes from Sydney Greenstreet who illuminates every scene he's in with his offbeat humour and his ability to convey non-verbally that he consistently knows more than he outwardly acknowledges.

MartinHafer When this film begins, Valerie Stanton (Rosalind Russell) is in the office of Gordon Dunning (Leon Ames). Dunning is insisting that he MUST have her or he will destroy her. Dunning is VERY intense and vaguely threatening. Stanton is obviously afraid of him and ends up accidentally killing him in self-defense. However, she does NOT tell the police but tries to see if she can get away with it. Since there is no doubt that Valerie did it, you might wonder how they fill the rest of the movie. After all, the killing happens in just the first few minutes of the film. Well, part of the film consists of Valerie having a flashback where she thinks about all the things that led up to the killing. The rest consists of the police investigation headed by the Captain (Sidney Greenstreet). However, where it all goes is not what I would have expected--and I appreciate that. In particular, since Valerie was doing the play "Hedda Gabler", I assumed the film would end the same as the play.The film has a very nice script, as it explores human nature and has plenty of twists and turns. Additionally, the acting and direction are quite intelligently done--making it a nice movie for adult tastes. Of the actors, by the way, my favorite was Greenstreet, as he plays against type and his performance is smooth and believable. Overall, a very nice film.

LeonLouisRicci The Title is the Feel of the Film. It is all Soft, with Gloss and Peacock Costumes and Fine Performances but the Movie is Rather Shallow and not much Happens. After a Norish Opening, Including a Flashback, the Film Looks Standard and the Broadway Setting is Lackluster.In Fact, most of the Thing is Lackluster, unless You Count the Shiny Costumes that Rosalind Russell Wears while Strutting Around and Walking from Stage Left to Right quite a bit. The Only Mystery is whether or not the Rather Stiff Actress will get away with Murder. But on Second Thought that's no Mystery because this is 1948.So that is Possibly Not Enough to keep things going for the Proceedings and Ultimately it isn't Quite All That and the Movie becomes Routine and Unmemorable. It is all done with Professional Ease with Sydney Greenstreet not doing much more than Removing His Hat and making Self-Deprecating Remarks about His Girth.The Film is Glamorous Looking but not much else to Recommend. Worth a Watch but nothing here Stands Out as a Resume Enhancer for the Familiar Cast.Note: one of the Film's greatest puzzles is who decided on that opening song

Neil Doyle ROSALIND RUSSELL is a stage actress who accidentally murders a lecherous producer (LEON AMES) in this melodramatic show biz story that has Russell trapped in a web of deception after killing Ames. Their stormy relationship is revealed in flashbacks as Russell thinks back on what led up to the murder.Unfortunately, Russell lends not a velvet touch to the proceedings, but an artificial one. Her stage actress is full of Russell's most studied mannerisms, including shifty-eyed side glances whenever pangs of guilt are displayed. She's all artifice, but because she's playing a stage actress I suppose it's forgivable. Still, a little less posturing and more real acting would have helped.CLAIRE TREVOR, as her rival on and off the stage, does a less mannered job as the hard-boiled other woman. LEO GENN is the architect who never goes to the theater and doesn't know Russell at all. It is he who comes between Ames and Russell once she decides she loves him.Some of the plot contrivances are not exactly believable. Genn's sudden interest in the actress is one of them, as is their quickly falling in love. Forty-five minutes into the story SYDENY GREENSTREET makes his appearance to investigate the case and from this point on interest in the outcome mounts steadily as the investigation goes forward.But the whole story is hardly handled with any subtlety. No melodramatic moment is overlooked by actress Russell or director John Gage. And that goes for the cat-and-mouse game Greenstreet plays with Russell. He plays his role with finesse, but it's the script that finally defeats everyone, especially Russell whose guilt complex is overplayed throughout.Summing up: Interesting with some good moments but obvious. Trevor and Greenstreet steal the show, but Genn is wasted and Russell is ultimately a disappointment.Trivia note: Expensive theater tickets were $4.80 in 1948.