If there were a variant on the Bechdel Test that involved a film containing a scene in which two women are engaged in a conversion and one of them is incessantly talking about herself - and particularly about her feelings - 'Hilda Crane' would pass such a test with flying colours.

Despite both male leads being of the Alpha variety, the real action derives from the interaction of the women of the piece; especially the conflict between sweet Jean Simmons (suffering in the lap of luxury while draped in furs in the sort of role you'd normally expect to see Joan Crawford) and grotesque matriarch Evelyn Varden.

I am surprised to read so many bad reviews of this movie on IMDd after having watched the restored version in glorious Technicolor and CinemaScope. Jean Simmons shines as usual and most of the secondary characters deliver a more than satisfying performance. Editing, cinematography and direction are fine.

So I agree with the former review untitled "Feverish melodrama, fifties malaise", except for one important point: I found the David Raksin score to be extremely annoying in the numerous intimate scenes with dialogue, undermining them with strings. It's not a matter of using dissonant music, rather a too old fashioned, and sirupy approach. Except for the opening titles and a few short dynamic passages, Raksin did a lousy job which actually deserves an otherwise very good film.