it be extremely rare that i see a movie from 1955 that i do not love . noir and jds and sci fi and drive in while i dig it all the most . robert aldrich be a director who have do plenty of excellent work and and most of this cast have fine performance under their belt . so what go wrong . when i use to work in the independent film world and we use to talk about something call actor movie . actor movie be movie that be unwatchable to anyone but other actor . actor like actor movie because they get to see act which be to say completely over the top melodrama . actor love to be give the chance to totally let loose give it all they have get and they get a great satisfaction from watch other actor do so . in many interview with actor they say he be a great director and he never interfere with me in any way . actually that the opposite of good directing and because the whole point of have a director on the set be to keep the actor from make fool of themselves ( which and give the chance and they will always do ) . apparently robert aldrich forget that on this project . or maybe he be ill. or maybe he think there be no hope for save the script in the first place and so what the heck . whatever the case and here be an example of a less known movie that be best forgotten . the character gesticulate and pontificate and generally ham it up all the way through . one thing i can say be realistic represent it set in hollywood and everyone act like their petty problem be the most important thing in the world . doesn not make it fun to watch and but it be realistic . what isn not realistic be that a producer so desperate to keep his star under contract be go to go out of his way to antagonize him in almost every conceivable way include require him to engage in illegal activity . but this and other plot contradiction merely carry along the melodrama and increase the opportunity for hand wringing and shout accusation . i do manage to get to the end of this film and which make it no bad than a negative in my book . but and why test your own endurance when there be so much else available to rent .