I never thought I would find a Bogart movie as dull as this. I appreciate that many enjoy it for its overwrought melodramatics, but I found it hard to struggle through to the end.

Bogart is the saving grace, and - while it is one of his laziest, most phoned-in performances - nothing in which he appears can be absolutely bottom of the barrel. But when he disappears from the film, for much of the second half, it is intolerable. And so long.

Hammy dialogue, an overacting Ava Gardner, sweaty Edmond O'Brien winning a dubious Oscar, wooden performances by the other principals, an eye-roller of a Cinderella motif... I was not impressed with this, at all.