The "true" if fictionalized story of Caroline (Mrs. Leslie) Carter (Miriam Hopkins), who goes on the stage after she is divorced by her husband. The film suggests that Carter became an actress only to get money to fight for custody of her son, but in real life the boy actually stayed with his mother and was cut out of his father's will because of it. In the film Carter unrealistically tries to storm Broadway by coming in at the top instead of climbing from the bottom, but it is true that her association with David Belasco (a magnificent Claude Rains) gave an inestimable boost to her career. The film doesn't make clear that she was considered the American Sarah Bernhardt in her day. Richard Ainley plays her second husband, and as the film suggests, their marriage did signal the end of her association with Belasco (although in the film he comes in at the end to help guide her in one last production). Miriam Hopkins gives a solid performance, but up against Claude Rains there is little she can do to steal the picture. The supporting cast includes such sterling players as Laura Hope Crews, John Litel, Victor Jory, and Cecil Kellaway. A very young Cornel Wilde has a small role, and you probably won't notice Alexis Smith or Craig Stevens.
Verdict: A lady you might like to make the acquaintance of -- on film, at least. ***.
Have never seen this one, but with a great WB cast like this one with Rains et al, and director Bernhardt of A Stolen Life with David and Possessed with Crawford, this looks like a winner. I actually prefer Hopkins in her later, mature supporting roles than as leading lady--she is so great in The Heiress and the remake of The Children's Hour....
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I agree with you -- Hopkins really soared in those later roles such as the ones you mention. Whatever she was like to deal with in her personal life, she was a fine actress.
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