I was surfing online and came across this film, that I had never heard of before and figured, what the heck, I'll check it out. And I'm glad I did!

It's set in Cairo in the 1900's, and since anything set in past times (with past outfits) captures my attention, it was off to a good start. It's quite a story, as Ruby (Merle Oberon), a woman with a less than stellar past, determines to marry Egyptologist Nigel (George Brent) and gain some security and respectability. It's a one-sided love match, as her feelings for him don't go much above slight fondness.

Bored with her life in Cairo, being left alone too much, and the society couples they're compelled to entertain, Ruby amuses herself by coming to the aid of a young women who has written indiscreet letters to the charismatic Baroudi (Charles Korvin), she ends up falling for his charms, and soon they're lovers. Among his many flaws, Baroudi is a compulsive gambler, and when Ruby thwarts his attempt to woo a young heiress, she finds herself agreeing to a plot to murder Nigel, leaving the two of them free to start over, with her widow's wealth.

Soon, however, Ruby's conscience gets the better of her, and then everything begins to spiral.

I don't think you'll regret watching this.

Sometimes one can endure the barest of plots in a Warner Brothers Kay Francis melodrama merely to enjoy the parade of Orry-Kelly creations that Kay wore so perfectly. So it is in this dark melodrama, as semi-glacial Merle Oberon parades across lush sets in an amazing assemblage of distinctive, detailed costumes that put to shame the average melodrama. Oberon marries Egyptologist Brent not for adventure or to help him dig up a legendary mummy, but to be able to have riches for life, to be able to mingle with the well-do-to without apology and it isn't long before she falls afoul of someone not unlike her, an alluring lothario with looks and cunning; as their lusts cool, it doesn't take long for them to start plotting nasty deeds.

But it isn't really the plot that moves this fascinating story along--it's a sense of lush studio style at it's richest, peopled with largely unfamiliar but compelling character actors that provide the sense of a larger world outside. Strong soundtrack, impressive set decor and above all, one magnificent fashion creation after another provide fascination for the viewer who can deal with the melodrama.

For some reason, Merle Oberon is always sensational on the screen, always outshining anyone in beauty, wit and splendour, and remarkably consistent in her dazzling beauty through the decades - she actually seemed never to age. In this film particular attention should be paid to her dresses, in the beginning her husband says that she is the most striking beauty of Egypt since Cleopatra, and you almost have to admit he is right. George Brent plays her husband, a hopeless bore of an archaeologist only interested in mummies, and in exotic Egypt she naturally must get bored and happen to the first best lover, who happens to be a scoundrel having deceived many women and lost all fortunes, so he chases women just for their money. She falls for him, and he persuades her to poison her husband to enable them to continue as partners with all her inherited money, and so the case goes from bad to worse. The film begins by a visit from a police officer, who imparts his suspicion of her, she has to visit his office the next day to answer some questions, so she turns to her husband's old friend and doctor, Paul Lukas, to confide in him and confess the full story. He as a doctor is in no position to judge anyone, so he just has to reluctantly listen to her. Most of the film is then flashbacks.

But it is an amazingly good and well written story, Merle Oberon sparkles throughout in her magnificent toilettes and with a constantly very intelligent dialog, so this is a real treat for the intellectual cineast. Much of this intrigue reminds you of Mankiewicz' rendering of the Cicero case in "Five Fingers", an authentic story, while this is all theatre but on a very advanced stage. The film is worth watching if even only for Merle Oberon's dresses.