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MysteryDrama

A Woman's Secret

- I had to stop her ... at any cost ... that's why I pulled the trigger !

A popular singer, Marian Washburn, suddenly and unexplainably loses her voice, causing a shake-up at the club where she works. Her worried but loyal piano player, Luke Jordan, helps to promote a new, younger singer, Susan Caldwell, to temporarily replace Marian. Susan finds some early acclaim but decides to leave the club after a few performances. Soon after Susan quits, she is gunned down, and Marian quickly becomes a suspect.

Release Date : 1949-01-13

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : RKO Radio Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Maureen O'Hara

Character Name : Marian Washburn

Original Name : Maureen O'Hara

Gender : Female

Melvyn Douglas

Character Name : Luke Jordan

Original Name : Melvyn Douglas

Gender : Male

Gloria Grahame

Character Name : Susan Caldwell / Estrellita

Original Name : Gloria Grahame

Gender : Female

Bill Williams

Character Name : Lee Crenshaw

Original Name : Bill Williams

Gender : Male

Victor Jory

Character Name : Brook Matthews

Original Name : Victor Jory

Gender : Male

Mary Philips

Character Name : Mrs. Mary Fowler

Original Name : Mary Philips

Gender : Female

Jay C. Flippen

Character Name : Police Insp. Jim Fowler

Original Name : Jay C. Flippen

Gender : Male

Robert Warwick

Character Name : Assistant District Attorney Roberts

Original Name : Robert Warwick

Gender : Male

Curt Conway

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Curt Conway

Gender : Male

Ann Shoemaker

Character Name : Mrs. Matthews, Brook's Mother

Original Name : Ann Shoemaker

Gender : Female

Virginia Farmer

Character Name : Mollie the Washburn Maid

Original Name : Virginia Farmer

Gender : Female

Ellen Corby

Character Name : Nurse who reads paper to Susan

Original Name : Ellen Corby

Gender : Female

Emory Parnell

Character Name : Police Lieutenant at Desk

Original Name : Emory Parnell

Gender : Male

Fred Aldrich

Character Name : Policeman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Aldrich

Gender : Male

C. Bakaleinikoff

Character Name : Studio Recording Session Conductor (Uncredited)

Original Name : C. Bakaleinikoff

Gender : Male

Guy Beach

Character Name : Policeman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Guy Beach

Gender : Male

Conrad Binyon

Character Name : Tommy (Uncredited)

Original Name : Conrad Binyon

Gender : Male

Oliver Blake

Character Name : Mr. Pierson (Uncredited)

Original Name : Oliver Blake

Gender : Male

Raymond Bond

Character Name : Dr. Ferris (Uncredited)

Original Name : Raymond Bond

Gender : Male

Eddie Borden

Character Name : Ship's Waiter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Borden

Gender : Male

Tom Coleman

Character Name : Policeman (Uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Coleman

Gender : Male

James Conaty

Character Name : Ship's Passenger (Uncredited)

Original Name : James Conaty

Gender : Male

Bert Davidson

Character Name : Radio Director (Uncredited)

Original Name : Bert Davidson

Gender : Male

Marcel De La Brosse

Character Name : French Baker (Uncredited)

Original Name : Marcel De La Brosse

Gender : Male

George Douglas

Character Name : Policeman (Uncredited)

Original Name : George Douglas

Gender : Male

John Goldsworthy

Character Name : Harold (Uncredited)

Original Name : John Goldsworthy

Gender : Male

Paul Guilfoyle

Character Name : Radio Program Moderator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Guilfoyle

Gender : Male

Alvin Hammer

Character Name : Fred (Uncredited)

Original Name : Alvin Hammer

Gender : Male

John Laing

Character Name : WLR Radio Announcer (Uncredited)

Original Name : John Laing

Gender : Male

Rory Mallinson

Character Name : Police Lt. Benson (Uncredited)

Original Name : Rory Mallinson

Gender : Male

Frank Marlowe

Character Name : Reporter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Marlowe

Gender : Male

Alphonse Martell

Character Name : Algerian Waiter (Uncredited)

Original Name : Alphonse Martell

Gender : Male

Ralph Montgomery

Character Name : News Photographer (Uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Montgomery

Gender : Male

Forbes Murray

Character Name : Mr. Emory (Uncredited)

Original Name : Forbes Murray

Gender : Male

Norman Nesbitt

Character Name : Announcer (Uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Nesbitt

Gender : Male

John Parrish

Character Name : Professor Paul Camelli (Uncredited)

Original Name : John Parrish

Gender : Male

Lee Phelps

Character Name : District Attorney's Office Clerk (Uncredited)

Original Name : Lee Phelps

Gender : Male

Harry 'Snub' Pollard

Character Name : Stagehand (Uncredited)

Original Name : Harry 'Snub' Pollard

Gender : Male

Scott Seaton

Character Name : Show Spectator (Uncredited)

Original Name : Scott Seaton

Gender : Male

Mickey Simpson

Character Name : Hotel Policeman Guard (Uncredited)

Original Name : Mickey Simpson

Gender : Male

Charles Wagenheim

Character Name : Algerian Piano Player (Uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Wagenheim

Gender : Male

Lynn Whitney

Character Name : Actress (Uncredited)

Original Name : Lynn Whitney

Gender : Male

Dan Foster

Character Name : Stage Manager (Uncredited)

Original Name : Dan Foster

Gender : Male

Donna Gibson

Character Name : Girl (Uncredited)

Original Name : Donna Gibson

Gender : Female

Frederic Nay

Character Name : Ship's Master of Ceremonies (Uncredited)

Original Name : Frederic Nay

Gender : Male

Bill Purington

Character Name : Intern (Uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Purington

Gender : Male

Jack Rourke

Character Name : Announcer (Uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Rourke

Gender : Male

Ralph Stein

Character Name : Mr. Harris (Uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Stein

Gender : Male

Evelyn Underwood

Character Name : Girl (Uncredited)

Original Name : Evelyn Underwood

Gender : Male

Loreli Vitek

Character Name : Waitress (Uncredited)

Original Name : Loreli Vitek

Gender : Male

Bernice Young

Character Name : Nurse (Uncredited)

Original Name : Bernice Young

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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 frustration is that the resolution just renders the whole story as sort of pointless, it does at times feel like they made it up as they went along, a jumbled collections of ideas. On the plus side there are some choice characterisations, a flashback structure and decent tech credits on show. Story is packed with angry lawyers, sarcastic coppers and sultry dames. Some of the dialogue spouted is noir gold, particularly when coming from the mouth of Flippen's (stealing the film but sadly under used) grizzled copper, while Ray and Diskant know their noir visuals as they tone down the contrasts and utilise closed in space for the more serious scenes in the story. Grahame is full of sexual and world wise innocence, teasing away like a good un', Jory gives a show of fidgety anger, while Douglas gets the tongue in cheek role and works well as a romantic prop feeding off of O'Hara's (actually under written considering it's the lead) more sternly sexy performance. This is not essential noir for the the noir lovers, and certainly not prime stuff from noir legend Nicholas Ray. Yet it's better than its maligned reputation suggests. But only just mind you... 6/10

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-06-14

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 clues there are, but sadly that's not really enough to steer this from mediocrity - despite it's starring credentials. Graham spends most of it under bandages, O'Hara in the clink and whilst Douglas does his debonaire best it all just rather peters out to a conclusion that doesn't really matter. The title does way more to generate a sense of intrigue and peril than the drama itself, and though it's perfectly watchable, it's also perfectly forgettable.