Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A sparkling crime melodrama richly steeped in theatrical atmosphere.
Much of the film seems to have been shot either at the Broadway theater
or at Sardi’s restaurant. It’s directed with style by John Gage and adapted
from the story “Annabel” by William Mercer. Leo Rosten is the screenwriter.

Valerie Stanton (Russell ) is a famous Broadway actress who has been
associated with successful producer Gordon Dunning (Ames) for the last
ten years. The film opens as they are arguing in his theater’s office,
just before the closing show of “Escapade” their latest comedy hit. She
is tired of doing popular fluff comedy plays and wants to do a serious
play, Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler,” with rival producer Peter Gunther. Gordon
seems amazed that she would want to play a tortured neurotic woman who
kills herself. The argument gets more heated when they talk about love
and their relationship, as Gordon believes love is a business proposition.
He tells her, “I created you. I can’t let go of you.” She tells him that
she wants to marry the prominent architect Michael Morrell (Genn), someone
she has fallen in love with. When Gordon threatens to sully her name with
Morrell, the black gloved actress becomes fearful and in the heat of the
moment kills him when she conks him over the head with a statue from his
desk.

Since Valerie has an iron-clad alibi, suspicions go to a rival actress
in the show, Marian Webster (Trevor). The body is found by Marian, an actress
in Gordon’s stable who was his girlfriend and star before Valerie moved
into the picture. Marian’s fingerprints are found all over the murder weapon,
and she has to be hospitalized as she goes into a state of shock and is
unable to be questioned by the investigating homicide officer, Captain
Danbury (Greenstreet).

The colorful captain is a theater buff, and in his inimical style
adds a comical contrast in moods to the other more sober-minded leads.
Russell is all fear and trepidation. Genn is the gallant gentleman lover.
Ames is the jealous producer who must possess what he creates. Trevor is
the bitter woman who feels she has no luck after being jilted.

In this solid production, the tension is kept up until the final
curtain call as to whether Russell will confess, get caught, or get away
with the crime of passion.