MysteryDrama

Black Widow

- Someone will kill this girl tonight!

A young stage hopeful is murdered and suspicion falls on her mentor, a Broadway producer.

Release Date : 1954-10-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Peter Denver

Original Name : Van Heflin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brian Mullen

Original Name : Reginald Gardiner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Iris Denver

Original Name : Gene Tierney

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nancy Ordway

Original Name : Peggy Ann Garner

Gender : Female

Character Name : Carlotta Marin

Original Name : Ginger Rogers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Detective Bruce

Original Name : George Raft

Gender : Male

Character Name : Claire Amberly

Original Name : Virginia Leith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gordon Ling

Original Name : Otto Kruger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lucia Colletti

Original Name : Cathleen Nesbitt

Gender : Female

Character Name : John Amberly

Original Name : Skip Homeier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anne

Original Name : Hilda Simms

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sylvia (uncredited)

Original Name : Mabel Albertson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Franklin Walsh (uncredited)

Original Name : Bea Benaderet

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police APB Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Nesdon Booth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Bradley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Carruthers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sergeant Welch (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Carter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Cristo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Oliver Cross

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maid (uncredited)

Original Name : Frances Curry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sergeant Owens (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard H. Cutting

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tony (uncredited)

Original Name : Anthony De Mario

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Franklyn Farnum

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Gordon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Haines

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Kenner G. Kemp

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Kruger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Model (uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Maples

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man in Hallway (uncredited)

Original Name : Forbes Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Monty O'Grady

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Cosmo Sardo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Jeffrey Sayre

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Oliver (uncredited)

Original Name : Aaron Spelling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Bert Stevens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fritz (uncredited)

Original Name : James Stone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Tovey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Coal Dealer (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Vallon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gwen Mills (uncredited)

Original Name : Geraldine Wall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Zachary Paige (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Wilcox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Costume Designer (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilson Wood

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

The Black Widow, deadliest of all spiders, earned its dark title through its deplorable practice of devouring its mate. The Black Widow, deadliest of all spiders, earned its dark title through its deplorable practice of devouring its mate. Black Widow is written and directed by Nunally Johnson. It stars Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney, George Raft, Peggy Ann Garner and Reginald Gardiner. Music is by Leigh Harline and cinematograpgy by Charles G. Clarke. A young writer insinuates herself into the life of a Broadway producer – with dire consequences… A CinemaScope/De Luxe colour production out of 20th Century Fox, Black Widow flirts with the boundaries of colour film noir. Heflin is the Broadway producer who has his world turned upside by what at first we think is a femme fatale, only the pic isn’t as straight forward as that. In fact, the title is a bit of a bum steer for this is not about some male murdering femme fatale, quite the opposite in fact, so expectation of that will only cause disappointment. Essentially this ends up as a who and why done it? And for the most part the pic holds the attention as the narrative pitches Peter Denver (Heflin) as the Broadway producer frantically trying to prove himself innocent of a murder. Cards are kept close to the chest as Johnson’s screenplay drips suspicion into the play at various points. We the audience are forced into questioning the manoeuvres of the lead protagonists, which gains momentum once Raft’s Detective Bruce starts investigating the case. However, some have cried out that the revelation was too easy to spot, maybe so if one is so desperate to do so, but of course we do hear this a lot from folk not happy with the film they have watched. Personally, I didn’t see it coming, but conversely, I was personally disappointed with the reveal. So, there you go, roll the dice and take a chance with it really. Tech aspects are hit and miss. The CinemaScope format doesn’t quite work here, given that most of the play is performed in apartments. When it comes to the cityscapes of New York – and the framing of characters within them – it’s a treat, especially as Clarke’s colour lenses are splendid, but Johnson the director doesn’t appear to get a handle on the format. Acting is also an interesting parade. Heflin is great, draws you into his “on the run to clear my name” malarkey with conviction, while Rogers is having a blast as the waspish lead lady with delusions of grandeur. Raft is a one note let down in a “for the money” role, and Tierney (sadly getting closer to succumbing to her mental health problems) is poorly written and Gardiner likewise. Garner (stepping in when Maggie McNamara fell ill) is fine, slinky and suspiciously delicate, but the course of the story leaves us short of more from her. As a whole? it’s a mixed bag, but definitely it’s on the good side of good, particularly for Heflin and Rogers fans and for those of a noir persuasion. 7/10