A Woman's Secret

7/5/2015

She had a voice with hormones. A Woman's Secret is directed by Nicholas Ray and adapted to screenplay by Herman J. Mankiewicz from the novel "Mortgage on Life" written by Vicki Baum. It stars Maureen O'Hara, Melvyn Douglas, Gloria Grahame, Victor Jory and Jay C. Flippen. Music is by Friedrich Hollaender and cinematography by George E. Diskant. When young singer Susan Caldwell (Grahame) is shot, Marian Washburn (O'Hara) takes the blame and is promptly charged. But something isn't right and those closest to Marian decide to dig a little deeper... If the Lord wanted you to have a bullet in you - you would have been born with one! A big mix of noir/mystery/melodrama conventions here as this RKO production ultimately holds its head just above water. The major problem that brings fru

6/14/2024

When a gunshot brings the maid rushing into the bedroom, she discovers "Susan" (Gloria Grahame) is the victim, and that her mentor "Marian" (Maureen O'Hara) is holding the smoking gun. When the police arrive, "Marian" confesses to trying to kill her, but with her victim still alive we will have to wait to hear her version of events. Meantime, her manager "Jordan" (Melvyn Douglas) doesn't understand why "Marian" would want to injure her talented young protégée, indeed - neither can policeman "Fowler" (Jay C. Flippen). The two are investigating but just going around in circles until "Mrs. Fowler" (Mary Philips) takes an hand in helping her husband to get to the bottom of the mystery. Though she really only appears towards the end, it's Philips who steals the show piecing together what few cl