A Woman's Secret (1949)
- Starring:
- Maureen O'Hara, Melvyn Douglas, (more)
- Director(s):
- Nicholas Ray
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
Member Rating
My RatingRent DVD by Mail
Theatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz adopts the same prismatic-flashback technique he'd used so well in Citizen Kane for the 1949 filmic soap opera A Woman's Secret. Based on a novel by Vicki (Grand Hotel) Baum, the film begins with the shooting of nightclub singer Susan Caldwell (Gloria Grahame). Marian Washburn (Maureen O'Hara), who'd coached Susan into the Big Time, confesses to the shooting. Neither Marian's piano-player friend Luke Jordan (Melvyn Douglas) nor police inspector Fowler (Jay C. Flippen) completely buy her story, and it is their probing investigation of the facts that sparks the flashback parade. The film details in sometimes clever, sometimes maudlin fashion the perils of living one's life vicariously through the accomplishments of others. Though filmed before director Nicholas Ray's "official" debut feature They Live by Night, A Woman's Secret was released afterward. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Maureen O'Hara - Marian Washburn
- Gloria Grahame - Susan Caldwell
- Victor Jory - Brook Matthews
- Mary Philips - Mrs. Fowler
- Curt Conway - Doctor
- Virginia Farmer - Mollie
- Emory Parnell - Desk Sergeant
- Conrad Binyon - Messenger Boy
- Paul Guilfoyle - Moderator
- Frank Marlowe - Whitey
- Lorelei Vitek - Waitress
- Ralph Stein - Mr. Harris
- Frederic Nay - Master of Ceremonies
- Bert Davidson - Radio Director
- Guy Beach - Policeman
- Lynn Whitney - Actress
- Mickey Simpson - Policeman
- John Parrish - Prof. Camelli
- Alphonse Martell - Waiter
- Alvin Hammer - Fred
- Raymond Bond - Dr. Ferris
- Melvyn Douglas - Luke Jordan
- Bill Williams - Lee
- Jay C. Flippen - Det. Fowler
- Robert Warwick - Roberts
- Ann Shoemaker - Mrs. Matthews
- Ellen Corby - Nurse
- John Laing - Radio Announcer
- Oliver Blake - Mr. Pierson
- Robert Malcolm - Bit
- Ralph Montgomery - Photographer
- Evelyn Underwood - Girl
- Norman Nesbitt - Announcer
- Dan Foster - Stage Manager
- Tom Coleman - Policeman
- John W. Goldsworthy - Harold
- Charles Wagenheim - Piano player
- Lee Phelps - Policeman
- Forbes Murray - Mr. Emory
- Rory Mallinson - Benson
- George Douglas - Policeman
- Eddie Borden - Waiter
- Director(s):
- Nicholas Ray
- Writer(s):
- Herman Mankiewicz
- Producer(s):
- Herman Mankiewicz
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Suitable for Children)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
