Scott played the ultimate femme fatale in "Too Late for Tears" (1948), with Don DeFore, Dan Duryea, Arthur Kennedy, and Kristine Miller. This Hitchcock-like, black-and-white noir is widely considered Scott's best film and performance. But, the film was a box-office failure when it was released, and the producer Hunt Stromberg was forced into bankruptcy. Decades later, one film historian reported the film's staying power: ""Too Late for Tears" is a relatively 'unknown and unseen' noir and deserves this recognition, especially for its storyline, acting, and the incredible performance of Lizabeth Scott in the femme fatale role." At the end of 1948, Scott shifted dramatic gears in "Paid in Full" which was released in 1950.