The ending

Over the decades there's been a lot of carping about the alleged "compromised" ending that Davis claimed the Production Code forced upon it. The original filmed ending had David going back to Joyce, and Joyce going back to her old shrewish ways, dominating and humiliating him. Personally, I don't think that ending is any better than the one in the final version of the film. Joyce Ramsey is a selfish, self-centered, grasping, and manipulating woman who has no sympathy from the audience, especially the way Davis plays her. The best ending possible would have had Joyce begging David to come back to her, and David telling her "no way," and going off to Santa Rosa in the taxi. Joyce deserves to be left alone and lonely, and ought to wind up with the same kind of miserable life that her friend Mrs. Hedges has, with a surly gigolo to drink with and occasionally rough her up, as is hinted at.