the performance be mainly so so but simon and the beauty she be and can not do much . her performance here be pretty bad and at time laughable due to her voice and which sound really bad here . i have never be a big fan of hers but this be certainly the bad thing i have see her do . a i have quote here from another imdb user and and to shed some light . simone simon never like this movie . she do not like how her character be portray ( due to censor ) and she never have anything to say good about this movie . this would at least explain why her character in this film fall flat for some viewer . she be under contract with rko and she be friend with and care a lot for val lewton and which explain why she take the role . i enjoy the movie for what it be and and do not read anything deeply dramatic about it . i be a simone simon fan so i enjoy the movie at least on that level . thanks .