Expertly constructed "woman's film" that was a deserved hit and a tribute to the talent of Charles Brackett, who produced, provided the story and co wrote the script. His old Wilder-Brackett colleague Mitchell Leisen directed, very well.
Olivia de Havilland is excellent in the lead, a woman who has a child out of wedlock. Everyone loves her in this film - John Lund, a pilot who bangs her then dies, leaving her pregnant; Phillip Terry, the small town man who wants to marry her, always loves her, raises the kid, and whose wife hates her and keeps Olivia away from the kid; Bill Goodwin, a travelling salesman turned bootlegger who joins forces with Olivia making cold cream, and helps her become super rich. It's a brilliant role for Olivia, who gets to age, suffer, be poor and glamorous, love her child, be loved.
John Lund made his debut. A showy part - parts rather, he plays his own son. He has a virile presence that served to give a false image of his capabilities of a star (he could act well enough, he just wasn't a star).
Victoria Horn is nice as a no-nonsense nurse. Great last line. Brackett made some top line films away from Wilder and this is one.
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