Antonioni""s story was inspired by the 1959 short story "Las Babas Del Diablo" ("The Devil""s Drool") by Julio Cortazar.In full view of Johnnie, she ouches and admires the war medal pinned on the front of her brother""s Confederate jacket.It leaves the audience with a distinctly down-beat conclusion and bitter taste.The low-budget film reflects the remarkable directorial debut of John Huston (previously a screenwriter) who efficiently and skillfully composed and filmed this American classic for Warner Bros."[In flashback, events and characters in the opening sequence begin to make sense as the story unfolds and the pieces of the mystery are explained.