No Man of Her Own

source: No Man of Her Own

Trailer—No Man of Her Own

No Man of Her Own

Top notch performances from Barbara Stanwyck and Jane Cowl make this film worthwhile. The plot's a bit silly - but these two extraordinary actors make it all seem utterly convincing. Moody cinematography and strong direction help too. Interesting to see the same story turn up a few years ago as "Mrs Winterbourne" with Ricki Lake and Shirley MacLaine in the Stanwyck and Cowl roles respectively. A less serious treatment, but also less successful.

Really great movie. Barbara Stanwyck is tremendous and the movie is both a great love story and suspenseful. Also very ahead of its time since Barbara Stanwyck's character is pregnant without being married and we are all routing for someone to kill Lyle's character. Jotix100 wrote in an earlier comment that this movie is a remake of an earlier movie with Clark Gable and Carole Lombard also named 'No Man of Her Own' but it isn't. The Gable/Lombard film of the same name has a completely different plot line. What is amazing is I haven't read anyone comparing this movie to 'While You Were Sleeping', which has the same storyline, but nobody dies and it is a comedy. I've been trying to find a video or DVD of the Stanwyck 'No Man of Her Own' without success. Anybody have any ideas??

I am a huge fan of Barbara Stanwyck. I have seen everything from her earliest pictures like "The Miracle Woman" to her swansong in the perfectly dreadful TV series "The Colbys". Ms. Stanwyck to me is probably the greatest of the "classic" era actresses. She is fine in this film, masterfully directed by Mitchell Leisen. This film has a compelling story, full of unexpected twists. It also has a fine supporting cast, with Jane Cowl a standout in a sympathetic part as a recently bereaved mother. The film is classic noir with some fine touches in the direction. There is a scene where a character is being wheeled into a hospital surgery filmed from the viewpoint of the person on the gurney. Another great touch comes when Ms. Stanwyck meets up with someone she'd rather not see at a party, and the music playing in the background takes on a wild, almost maniacal tone. I had never heard of this film before, and it's not out on DVD, but it is streaming in an excellent print on Netflix.

I love this film. I first saw it when I was 10 and always remembered the story and feel of it. This is wonderful noir, with the kind of plot that keeps one enthralled until the final frame. All the performers deliver: Stanwyck moves from a tragic character with little hope, through loss, the turmoil of deceit to happiness. This was a strong performance for her; John Lund perfectly portrays a man in conflict. Jane Cowl and Catherine Craig are almost a perfect sparing pair as the mother and the maid, their sarcasm to each other provides the humour scattered through the film. The atmosphere and mood of the latter part of this film is perfectly captured in black and white. It makes you realize the role shooting a film in black and white played in this genre. If you have not seen this film, do yourself a favour AND SEE IT.

...and I say that with the highest form of flattery. This nail-biter is tightly directed, moves along at a nice swift pace and never drags for even a moment. Barbara Stanwyck gives one of the finest performances I have seen by her and the rest of the cast is all around excellent as well. After Helen Ferguson is left pregnant and penniless by her jerkoff of a boyfriend (the dreamy and steamy Lyle Bettger), a series of events leaves her mistaken for the widow of a rich man. The family takes her in and the brother of her alleged widow (played by handsome John Lund) falls in love with her and everything is hunky-dory - that is, until the jerkoff ex-boyfriend comes back and starts all kinds of trouble. The cherry on top of the whipped cream here is a lovely and sympathetic performance by Jane Cowl as the mother-in-law. A classic soapy film noir!

A case of mistake identity turns into a grand deception as a new mother tries to secure a better life for her child. The premise is similar to THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (minus the concentration camp angle, of course). A bit predictable and a bit far-fetched, but Stanwyck's performance sells it completely, and Leisen shows a dedication to the material, bringing what might have been a rather hokey women's weepie to life. The drama is compelling from start to finish, with measured pacing and excellent camera-work. The situation keeps ratcheting up to a tense climax. Lyle Bettger is pretty great as the slimy antagonist, as is Jane Cowl as the benevolent grand dame of the household (John Lund once again comes off rather bland). If the ending seems a bit too convenient, at least it provides for a really satisfying callback.

Barbara shines as the deceiving wife and does so much with her eyes. Jane and John are also very good. Strong script and not too overly sentimentalized for its era. A very enjoyable soaper with a great supporting cast. Gee, I miss all those great bit players of the thirties and forties. They added so much sparkle and credibility and a type of reassurance not seen in today's movies. Bravo to the entire cast in this little gem.