Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- theatrical
- bleak
- morally severe
- classic cinema night
- Bette Davis retrospective
What critics said
Critics found the film's performances and racial-discrimination subplot effective, while judging its melodramatic story and excessively theatrical central villain harshly.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stanley abandons Craig, takes Roy's husband, drives Peter toward suicide, and later tries to manipulate Craig again.
Stanley's infidelity, manipulation, jealousy, and attempted false accusation structure the narrative.
Stanley attempts to shift responsibility for a hit-and-run onto Parry Clay, an educated Black clerk in Craig's law office.
The film foregrounds Stanley's flamboyant villainy, pointed dialogue, and escalating domestic betrayals.
Films like In This Our Life, and why
The Letter
shared domestic melodrama, morally destructive central woman, and classic Hollywood performance intensity
The Little Foxes
shared sibling rivalry, social judgment, and psychologically charged woman-centered melodrama
Jezebel
shared corrosive romantic manipulation, family conflict, and high-register studio drama
Movie Details
- Director
- John Huston
- Release Date
- 1942-05-08
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (58)
Cast
- Bette Davis
- Olivia de Havilland
- George Brent
- Dennis Morgan
- Charles Coburn
- Frank Craven
- Billie Burke
- Hattie McDaniel
- Lee Patrick
- Mary Servoss
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is In This Our Life about?
- A ruthless socialite tears through love, family, and reputation while a racially charged cover-up exposes the consequences of her selfishness.
- What is In This Our Life like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of In This Our Life as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is In This Our Life violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in In This Our Life as mild.
- What did critics think of In This Our Life?
- Critics found the film's performances and racial-discrimination subplot effective, while judging its melodramatic story and excessively theatrical central villain harshly.
- Which films are like In This Our Life?
- Films with a similar feel include The Letter, The Little Foxes, and Jezebel.
- How long is In This Our Life?
- In This Our Life runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch In This Our Life?
- In United States, In This Our Life streams on YouTube TV.
