Payment on Demand (1951) - Bette Davis, Barry Sullivan

David and Joyce Ramsey (Barry Sullivan and Bette Davis) have been married for 21 years and have two daughters (Betty Lynn and Peggie Castle). One day, David surprises Joyce by announcing that he wants a divorce. While Joyce is shocked, deep down she knows their marriage has long suffered due to their differing values. Joyce is an ambitious social climber, while David aspired to practice law with his partner Robert (Kent Taylor) and live on a farm—a dream Joyce has continually undermined, leaving David miserable. Through a series of flashbacks, Joyce recalls their early romance and marriage, when she manipulates events to benefit David’s career—even at the expense of his friendship with Robert. As time goes on, Joyce pursues status among the social elite, despite David’s expressed distaste for their ‘snooty’ attitudes. Their conflicting ambitions eventually lead to estrangement. After their separation, Joyce learns David is seeing another woman and uses the potential threat to the woman’s reputation to secure a large settlement. Alone on a cruise, Joyce comes to the sobering realization that loneliness is not what she wanted. **Cast:** - Bette Davis as Joyce Ramsey - Barry Sullivan as David Ramsey - Kent Taylor as Robert Townsend - Walter Sande as Swanson - Jane Cowl as Emily Hedges - Frances Dee as Eileen Benson - John Sutton as Anthony Tunliffe - Betty Lynn as Martha Ramsey - Brett King as Phil Polanski **Runtime:** 90 minutes