This movie has a directness and immediacy that I find amazing--there is hardly a moment or expressed emotion that isn't believable. For me, every one of these characters was in some way touching--their dreams, their disappointments, their desires, the paths they have chosen for their lives, their relationships--be it with other people, their work, or their destinies. Worth watching just for Orson Welles' appearance toward the end, talking about moviemaking and life--marvelous.