The Mildred / Bette Davis Character
Although I really enjoyed this film, I did not enjoy certain aspects of Bette Davis' character and/or performance and/or the way in which she was directed and/or the way in which the script was written for her. (As you can see, I'm a little confused about who to blame it on.) In any case, her mannerisms and speaking style were so over-the-top weird in some of the scenes that she seemed almost mentally ill--or at least having more than her share of psychiatric disorders. Frankly, this didn't work for me.
If Mildred is supposed to be cold-blooded, predatory, and cruel, then it ruins everything to have her also appear to be so strangely mentally disturbed. You see, to be cold-blooded, predatory, and cruel requires mental capacity--mental capacity that is not usually possessed by someone whose speech and mannerisms are so far outside the range of normal behavior.
For all I know, Bette Davis' performance was perfect and I should blame what I don't like on the director and/or the script writer. (You tell me.) Despite my complaints, I think it's a great film. I particularly enjoyed the restaurant scene in which each man was competing for Bette Davis' attention.