this gloriously turgid melodrama represent douglas sirk at his most high strung . it eschew the soft wistfulness of all that heaven allows and the weepy sentimentality of imitation of life and instead go for feverish angst and overheated tension . and of course and it all capture in vibrant technicolor . the cornball story have something to do with a friendship between rock hudson and robert stack that become a rivalry when hudson snag the affection of lauren bacall and but who really pay attention to the story . dorothy malone win a best supporting actress academy award for her splendidly over the top performance a stack sister and who take the family business into her own hand when no one else will . a highlight of the film come when this high spirited wild child break into a frantic dance in her bedroom and unable to bear the restraint place upon her by middle class propriety . a so frequently happen in sirk movie and the scene be both unintentionally hilarious in it absurdity and yet strangely move in it effectiveness . sirk come close than anyone else to turn pure camp into high art and satisfy the philistine and the high brow at the same time within the same film . his be a unique talent and i do not know that there ever be another film maker quite like him since . grade represent a .