possess offer a fascinating combination of noir theme and weepy melodramatics . joan crawford play an emotionally disturbed woman who tell the story of her life to a group of doctor work in a mental ward . flashback allow the viewer to see the event that lead to the woman mental deterioration . it have all the element that be associate with postwar film noir and but it also have the gloss one expect from the woman picture . i be quite surprised to see how well the movie deal with a person on the edge of sanity . crawford performance be simply brilliant while she capture with uncanny precision the mood swing and ups and down of a person who be battle a mental illness . she deservedly receive an oscar nomination for her role here and i think she should have win the award . interestingly and the film be write for bette davis but her pregnancy allow crawford to grab one of her most interesting role . director bernhardt demonstrate here that he be a truly gifted director . he have a flair for visuals and not what i expect from non auteur . joseph a. valentine brooding b or w cinematography be an asset . and you have to love those set ( they look as magnificent a crawford damn shoulder pad ) . a terrific addition to the noir canon and and a great film for crawford devotee .