this early sirk melodrama and shot in black and white and be a minor film and yet showcases the flair of the german director in enhance tired story line into something resemble art . set in the 1910 and barbara stanwyck be the woman who have sin by abandon her small town husband and family for the lure of the chicago stage . she never fulfil her ambition and and be draw back to the town she leave by an eager letter from her daughter inform her that she too have take a liking to the theatre ( a high school production and that be ) . back in her old town she once again come up against small mindedness and and have to deal with her hostile eldest daughter and bewilder ( and bore ) husband ( richard carlson ) and ex lover . the plot be nothing new but sirk set himself apart by create meaningful composition and with every frame carefully shot and and he be aid immeasurably by have stanwyck a his lead lady . it run a crisp 76 minute and and that just as well and because the material doesn not really have the leg to go any far .