This darkly satirical family melodrama is a sharp attack on middle-class life in Fifties America, with Fred MacMurray very effective as the much-put-upon family man who has a dull job in a toy factory but who feels renewed hope when he meets up with old flame (and old co-star) Barbara Stanwyck. However, MacMurray's three brats (led by William Reynolds in almost a repeat of his character in director Douglas Sirk's previous film, All That Heaven Allows) see to it that all ends in grief. Well acted by all concerned, the film has a depressing message and it's not surprising that it had less than ecstatic reviews for daring to look at the dark side of the American Dream. In fact the symbolic final scene was originally intended to be even darker, until Sirk was persuaded to modify it. Interesting to see what was considered too grim four decades ago.


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