the plot felt like it had huge chunks missing. You've seen it at least a couple of times, L-- does the story get any clearer with repeated viewings?
I think the film gets worse the more times you see it.
From the TCM website, "Unfortunately RKO brass and preview audiences at a disastrous Santa Barbara screening were left cold by the film's refusal to play by the traditional murder-mystery rulebook. A frustrated and despairing Renoir returned to the editing room and then reshot numerous scenes at RKO's insistence for a drastic overhaul, which probably accounts for several noticeable inconsistencies in the dialogue."
However, for me, it's always a pleasure to watch Joan Bennett.
Janet