在视听处理上，导演有意淡化戏剧冲突。数字修复为历史影像带来革新，全彩上色让历史更加鲜活，画面呈现拓展表现空间。但技术使用十分克制，整体色彩保持历史本色。整体表现注重意义深度。色彩选择体现历史责任感，声音设计追求简约效果。Onarainynightin1928inaPennsylvaniafactorytowncalledIverstown,MarthaIvers(JanisWilson),thirteenyearsold,istryingtoescapefromtheguardianshipofherwealthy,domineeringaunt.Herfriend,thestreet-smart,poorSamMasterson(DarrylHickman),comesforherthroughherbedroomwindow,butMartha'sauntcatchesthem.WhileSamslipsoutunnoticed,MarthahitsMrs.Iversonthehead,causinghertofalldownthelongstaircaseanddie.ThoughSamsawnothing,theeventwaswitnessedbyWalterO'Neil(MickeyKuhn),thesonofMartha'stutor(RomanBohnen),knownasMr.O'Neil.MarthaliesabouttheincidenttoMr.O'Neil,andWaltersupportsher.[5]　　Mr.O'NeilsuspectswhathappenedbutpresentsMartha'sversionofeventstothepolice,thatanintruderisresponsible;hemakesuseofhisknowledgebyhavinghermarryhisson.Whenthepoliceidentifyaformeremployeeoftheauntasthemurderer,thetwoO'NeilsandMarthahelpconvicthim;heispunishedbyhanging.[5]　　Eighteenyearslater,theolderO'Neilhasdied.Walter(nowplayedbyKirkDouglas)isthedistrictattorney,whileMartha(BarbaraStanwyck)hasusedherinheritancefromheraunttobuildalargebusinessempire.Theirmarriageisone-sided;helovesher,butshedoesnotlovehim.　　Sam(VanHeflin),nowadrifterandgambler,stopsinthesmalltownbychancetohavehiscarrepairedafteranaccident.Whilewaitingforrepairs,athisoldhome,nowaboardinghouse,hemeetsAntoniaToniMarachek(LizabethScott),whohasjustbeenreleasedfromjail.Sheislaterpickedupforviolatingherprobationbynotreturningtoherhometown.SamgoestoseeWalter,toseeifhecanusehisinfluencetogetherreleased.　　WalterisconvincedSamhasreturnedwithblackmailinmind,givingWalteramotivetorunSamoutoftown.WhenMarthareactswithjoytothenewsofSam'sreturn,Walter'sjealousyprovidesanadditionalmotive.WalterforcesTonitosetSamup.Samisbeatenanddrivenoutoftown,butheistootoughtobeintimidated.Whenallelsefails,Waltermakesahalf-heartedattempttokillSamhimself,butiseasilydisarmed.Marthatheninadvertentlyblurtsoutthecouple'sfearsofblackmail,whichprovetobegroundlessSamsayshedidnotwitnessthedeath.Marthabreaksdownandlamentsthatheleftwithoutherallthoseyearsago,takingwithhimheronlychanceforloveandfreedom.　　Samistornbetweenhisoldloveandhisnew.AlthoughheeventuallyforgivesToniforbetrayinghim,heandMarthaspendanidyllicdaytogether,rekindlinghisfeelingsforher.　　WalterarrangestomeetSamtofinallysettlematters.BeforeSamarrives,WaltergetsdrunkandMarthafindsoutaboutthemeeting.WhenWalterfallsdownthestairsandisknockedunconscious,MarthaurgesSamtokillhim.SaminsteadbringsWalteraround.MarthapullsoutagunandthreatenstoshootSaminselfdefenseasanintruder.However,SamgamblesthatWalterwillnotbackupherstory;heturnshisbackonherandleaves.　　Walterembracesandkisseshiswife;thenhepointsthegunathermidriff.Oddlyrelieved,sheputsherhandoverhishandonthetriggerandpresses.Assheisdying,shedefiantlystateshernameisnotMarthaIvers,butMarthaSmith.Outside,Samhearstheshot.Herunsbacktowardthemansion,butseesWalter,holdingMartha'sbody,shoothimself.SamandTonidriveawaytogether.