It might not be everybody's taste, the story might not be super exciting, but it is a very well-made movie! Production values are high, camera work is superb and all actors are very good, even the small parts. And then, there is Ava Gardner. Not only is she a pleasure to look at (here, she is almost 50 and looks gorgeous), it is unbelievable how well she plays. It looks like this movie was tailor-made for her. She is so natural!
Some people here wrote this is Roddy McDowall's only work as a director because this movie is so bad. Impossible! There must be other reasons, for example it was/is considered too artistic, or McDowall realized that he did not like directing after all, since for being his first (and only) work as a director this movie is too good, too well-made. For being his first directional work, McDowall was extremely talented! In fact, I never regarded him as a very good actor (good, but not very good). That is why I did not expect this movie to be this well-directed. It surprised me very positively.
Some people here wrote this is Roddy McDowall's only work as a director because this movie is so bad. Impossible! There must be other reasons, for example it was/is considered too artistic, or McDowall realized that he did not like directing after all, since for being his first (and only) work as a director this movie is too good, too well-made. For being his first directional work, McDowall was extremely talented! In fact, I never regarded him as a very good actor (good, but not very good). That is why I did not expect this movie to be this well-directed. It surprised me very positively.