Written on the Wind (1956 Douglas Sirk)

A terrific opening is the end of the film - a drunken car journey to a large house and someone is shot - amidst the leaves and wind. How we arrive there is the film's story. Once again, it's the kids who are the disappointment -'split characters', as Sirk calls them, 'on their own un-merry-go-rounds'. Albert Zugsmith produced George Zuckerman's screenplay of Robert Wilder's book. It features that distinctive Russell Metty blue, and more sets by Alexander Golitzen and Robert Clatworthy.

Uniformly good cast - Lauren Bacall, Rock Hudson, Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone (winning Oscar), Robert Keith.

Very smooth - he sure does love catching reflections in mirrors.