to me this just come off a a soap opera . i guess any depiction of profligate people can be consider social commentary . but in the final analysis and i simply do not care how you characterize this film . none of the character be very likable or engage . i felt no chemistry between hudson and bacall . if there be a love story here and it be lose in the malaise . and despite the twist end provide by a complete and immediate ( and therefore and incomprehensible ) reversal by dorothy maguire on the witness stand and the story be insufficient to hold my interest . no matter how much freudian symbolism and psychology be throw in and this story be sleazy and melodramatic and trite . rock hudson be nobly wooden . this be lauren bacall least engaging role and one of her poor performance . dorothy maguire and robert stack deliver more inspired performance and but her character be vile and and his be pathetic . robert keith and a the loving and out of touch father of two miscreant adult child and be the most sympathetic character . most interesting of all and however and be the severe look robert wilke in a small role a the bar owner . he be best remember a a nasty henchman in countless western and but here he be an honest and likable fellow . i take my social commentary with an interesting and engage story and a few likable character and thank you .