Still fresh from their success and newfound love in "All About Eve," Bette Davis and Gary Merrill made this independent film, "Another Man's Poison," based on a play by Leslie Sands. Davis is Janet Frobisher, a successful mystery writer living in a mausoleum of a house out on the moors. When her husband's partner in a bank robbery comes there looking for him, Frobisher announces that he's in the study - dead from the poison she gave him (medicine intended for her beloved horse, Fury). While they're attempting to dispose of the body, Frobisher's paramour, whom she summoned earlier, arrives with his fiancé (who is also Frobisher's secretary). The bank robber, named George Bates, introduces himself as Frobisher's estranged husband and settles in.

This is a neat, atmospheric story with an edgy, vital performance by Davis. Merrill, ruggedly handsome, is appropriately gruff and sinister. Though his character thinks he and Frobisher might really have a chance at playing house, his competition is the very handsome, young Anthony Steel, a popular British matinée idol of the '40s. Emlyn Williams is marvelous as the nosy, annoying veterinarian who keeps stopping by.

"Another Man's Poison" seems to have been made rather cheaply - the print I saw was not of great quality, and the lighting is on the dark side. Though the setting is somewhat static because it was originally a play, the film is very intriguing, and Davis always worth seeing. Highly recommended.

Janet Frobisher (Bette Davis) is home when a strange man bursts into her home. George Bates (Gary Merrill) demands to know where Mr. Frobisher is but Janet is evasive. So, George explains that he and her husband were involved in a robbery and the husband killed someone...and he wants to get a hold of him in order to prove he didn't do the killing. But, it's too late, and Janet introduces George to her husband....and he's quite dead! It seems she was sick of the jerk and after slapping her around, she poisoned him! What an interesting pair we meet at the beginning of the picture!

As for George, he's not about to just leave and decides to stick around...telling folks he's Mr. Frobisher. Considering that none of the neighbors ever met the man, it's an easy ruse. And, he knows Janet won't betray him because he knows about that pesky dead body sitting in the study!

While I really enjoyed Merrill's and Davis' characters (both were deliciously evil) and I do recommend the film, it is not perfect. It was originally a play and it's pretty obvious since the film is very talky and a bit claustrophobic. But the ending...well...that makes up for a lot!

Have said quite a few times regarding being a big admirer of Bette Davis, one of the best actresses of her generation and ever in my and many others' view. And it is Davis that was the biggest draw in seeing 'Another Man's Poison'. Other big draws being the premise which actually was intriguing, and that it was directed by Irving Rapper. Who also directed Davis more than once and with much success, especially with one of her finest ever performances in 'Now Voyager'.

That is not to say that Davis never made a bad film or never gave bad performances, almost every actor/actress/director had at least one misfire. They did exist on both counts in the case of Davis, while vastly eclipsed by the vast number of good to superb films and performances she had. 'Another Man's Poison' does have moments, even if they were not great themselves, but it is with regret that my opinion matches those that consider it one of her worst films (one of Rapper's worst too).

Davis in comparison to most of everything else doesn't fare too awfully here. It is a long way from one of her best performances, but to me she has done worse. Although she is very over the top, especially the quite outrageous scenery chewing in the climax, Davis at least gives it her absolute all and is actually the only actor/actress in the whole film that showed signs of trying. That can't be said for, for example, 'Wicked Stepmother' (her final film) where her utter contempt for the film showed loud and clear on screen.

Also found the Gothic setting to be quite striking and the photography and eerie lighting accentuated that quality. The climax is overblown to the absolute extreme, with some unintentional laughs guaranteed, but it is also the most interesting 'Another Man's Poison' gets.

On the other hand, the rest of the cast show nowhere near the same amount of enthusiasm that Davis does. Gary Merrill lacks the intensity needed for his role, doing little with the sympathetic character role, and Anthony Steel and Barbara Steele are also very bland in underwritten roles. Steel particularly is very forgettable. Emlyn Williams does do his best and does fare the best of the rest of the cast, but has an irritating character to work with. Rapper's direction never rises above routine, which was disappointing as on paper this type of film would have been well suited to him.

Furthermore, the script is too talk heavy, constantly sounds awkward and goes overboard on the camp, some of the dialogue alone is enough to induce unintentional laughs. The story never really ignites in terms of pace, coming to life only in the climax for not necessarily the right reasons, and is a mess of ridiculously overblown melodrama due to the histrionics rising well above fever pitch, convolutions and serious credibility-straining. Next to nothing rings true or makes sense here and there is a stagy feel throughout. Didn't find myself connecting to any of the characters, with the most sympathetic character being still underwritten and blandly played.

In summary, semi-watchable if wanting to see every film Davis made but there are numerous far better films and performances of hers. A curio but a somewhat "interesting" failure. 4/10