改编自田纳西·威廉斯的名剧，并由舞台剧原班人马协作演出，由手法慎重的理查德·布鲁克斯导演，描画过气电影女星跟她的男冤家回到美国南部的故土，希望应用她的美色和名望，狠狠地向外地的贪污镇长敲诈一笔养老金。本片讨论人心的险峻狡诈相当深入有力，令人看后感到心寒。杰拉尔丁·佩奇、保罗·纽曼等一众演员均有上佳演出。

　　Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense. She is prosecuted by John Sargent. He postpones the trial because it is hard to get a conviction at Christmas time.