Beyond the Forest

Bette Davis's character lies in some strange place between sympathetic and despicable and the way the film is shot matches that, giving her a lot of screentime and moments where she's a pitiable victim, countered by shots that paint her as a horror movie villain. It's absolutely compelling for that reason and her matching performance. I wish Cotten had more to do, but it's clearly Davis' film from beginning to end.

Sudsy melodrama would likely be unmemorable if not for Davis' typically commanding lead performance - she pulls off the delicate balance of overripe without ever going completely over-the-top; much of the tension hinges on her balancing act, and she delivers in spades, which also gives the finale more impact than it deserves to have. The rest of the cast are competent without standing out, ditto Vidor's sturdy direction. A definitely worthwhile curio if only for the immortal line 'What a dump!'.

Viewed November 22, 2020. The moments of camp are balanced out by Vidor's sensitive handling of place, which situates Bette's perversely American dream within a recognizable small-town milieu. Throughout, the film's high emotions are matched by Vidor's florid style, with its bold camera movements and striking transitions. There is the sense that every shot, dissolve and movement

Given that Vidor directed The Fountainhead you'd think he'd like powerful individuals like Rosa? I dunno this is a pretty cool flick. Great direction

Hilarious camp. Pauline Kael: "An evil Emma Bovary, [Davis] is a sloven married to a Midwestern doctor (Joseph Cotten); she treats him abominably, and every time she has a chance, she surrenders herself with hysterical enthusiasm to the hot-eyed embraces of a Chicago magnate (David Brian)... Davis shakes her ample hips, kills an old man (Minor Watson), plunges down a mountainside to end an unwanted pregnancy, and dies within sight of a choo-choo pulling out for Chicago, Chicago."

Like Duel in the Sun, this has heaps of camp appeal. Bette Davis is a powerhouse, absolutely spellbinding. Her character is diabolically evil, and yet more than a little sympathetic. Sure, it's trashy and over the top, but you can't take your eyes off her. The film sports a number of memorable moments, some killer lines, and a hell of an ending. Max Steiner's score is typically overblown, but for once it seems appropriate. Except for the lousy opening narration, it's a knockout.

Há 70 anos estreava nos EUA. É, a Bette Davis é sempre ótima de se assistir, mas mesmo assim esse é um Vidor menor. Madame Bovary noir style. DVDRip no MakingOff.

Not bad,

The absurdity of casting Bette Davis in that role! No wonder she quit Warner Bros! But man, she really makes it memorable! She plays this unreliable woman as unsubtle as can be, and it's a wonderful self-destruct spiral you can't take your eyes off. Everyone knows this won't end well for her, and that's the fun, seeing what crazy impulses she'll go with next. Beyond the Forest (1949) is many's guilty pleasure.