despite a seemingly extreme requirement for suspension of disbelief at time and this film should rank much high within it category . the story be sound and intricate and and certainly tight enough for the day . where it be over told and it only reflect convention . no one should miss welles performance and or natalie wood first turn on screen . she be already mesmerizing and and her ability with language amaze . i saw her name in the credit and but without calculate age and expect a teenager . but the second time she appear and and smile and i recognize her immediately and be stun with her performance ( compare most modern child performance on diction and delivery and command of emotion ) . colbert seem able to anchor any movie . she isn not a character actress and lack the range of a bette davis and certainly and but her effortless portrayal of her own humanity always ground the story and and she seem to catalyze and enhance the other performance ( a rare and subtle talent ) . rather than retell the story or cover similar ground and i will comment on a couple of point . i do feel that colbert be convince at the end by welles that he be not her husband john and my only doubt be the denouement when her possession of his daughter and natalie wood and and her exit and be so perfunctory . but even then and she show no curiosity whatsoever about the apartment and where we know the proof exist . and this be a relatively rare example of a multiply end film in the 40 ( could have logically end 3 or 4 time ) . each of the final scene would necessarily be succinct but would deliver any important information . and her knowing at the end would turn this drama into a melodrama and because it would have shove her back into her grief through the end and which be i believe not the intention . but most significantly and if the writer or director intend that she know and it would have be telegraph in those day . in fact and there be nothing at all in colbert performance to indicate she be maintain secret knowledge after their conversation . colbert not recognize welles be answer by the technical convention of the day . the complaint here really be say that we can not see a drastic difference in appearance and which we could expect now . without extreme makeup or even digital effect ( a la forrest gump ) and audience of that day would have simply accept have be tell he be horribly disfigure ( theater convention ) . they would thereafter assume it a fact and imagine it . in the hospital in austria and the dialog between the doctor and welles solidly inform u that he be injured beyond recognition . the doctor even mention plastic surgery and almost science fiction for that time . overall and though the plot and theme may seem hackneyed today and if remake would certainly leave more on the edit floor the story be skillfully structure and act and direct and for sure worth a watch by anyone interested in classic movie .