one of the common criticism of bette davis be always that without a strong directorial hand she would start chew the scenery . but that also have save some mediocre film and make them entertain . davis strong personality come through in the clinch . here though i wish she have chew some scenery and if she have the film might have become a camp classic . instead it be unbelievably dull . bette davis be a poetess and a 20th century emily dickinson and who meet and fall in love with a war hero play by jim davis . yes and that right and jim davis who later become jock ewing . he a navy veteran and a war hero and who be consider the priesthood a a vocation . but first before the curtain of celibacy fall and he want to have a fling or two and so jim be on the make for bette and for the young janis paige . bette win out so they go to her late father place in new england where they talk and talk and talk about all of their problem and the world problem . when you have engage and likable character even a plot less movie be entertain . the best example i know be the sundowner . but there be absolutely nothing in this film that make you care an iota about the people here . a little davis histrionics might have save this film and but we will never know . john hoyt have an interesting part . it a though he try to be a poor man clifton webb . we should have have more of him as well .