It's pure melodramatic romantic soap, but really well done, particularly the first half, where the pacing is a little more up tempo. Optimal use is made of the glossy, postcard perfect, Californian lake locations and the movie's general production values are first class, as is the normal pattern to Douglas Sirk directed films. Rock in his first lead role is well cast and well paired with Jane Wyman. The whole underlying socialist/philanthropic-ideal surrounding the "obsession" of the title adds an extra layer of mildly subversive interest to proceedings.
If you like your soap bubbles with a little edge to them, Douglas Sirk is your go to man.
If you like your soap bubbles with a little edge to them, Douglas Sirk is your go to man.