bette davis be at her best in this 1800s southern melodrama in which her attempt to snag a married ex love ( henry fonda ) end in tragedy . storywise this be nothing new and and there be way too many scene be people talk endlessly about southern manner . also see all the black slave so happy and singing be a bit hard to take . but the direction by william wyler be excellent . he direct in a way that make you part of the action ( especially in the ball sequence and a duel at the end ) . best of all be davis . her performance be superb when she on screen you can not take your eye off her . she win a well deserve best actress oscar for this . also fay bainter be excellent a her long suffering aunt she win best support actress . all the acting be good except for henry fonda he so stiff and dull what do davis want with him . one last complaint it not in color . i know there be two reason for this represent 1 ) the expense and 2 ) they do test and davis look horrible in color ( think about it how many color movie do she make . ) . still and the non stop compliment about the red dress at the beginning be annoy the dress look black . still and this be worth see for davis and bainter and the direction .