The Locket (1946)

Just before a wedding, the bridegroom hears a complex tale painting his lovely bride as devilish and unbalanced.

Director:

John Brahm

Writer:

Sheridan Gibney

Stars:

Laraine Day, Brian Aherne, Robert Mitchum

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laraine Day	...	Nancy
Brian Aherne	...	Dr. Blair
Robert Mitchum	...	Norman Clyde
Gene Raymond	...	John Willis
Sharyn Moffett	...	Nancy (Age 10)
Ricardo Cortez	...	Mr. Bonner
Henry Stephenson	...	Lord Wyndham
Katherine Emery	...	Mrs. Willis
Reginald Denny	...	Mr. Wendell
Fay Helm	...	Mrs. Bonner
Helene Thimig	...	Mrs. Monks
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Wendell
Queenie Leonard	...	Woman Singer
Lillian Fontaine	...	Lady Wyndham (as Lilian Fontaine)
Myrna Dell	...	Thelma

Storyline

Lovely Nancy seems like the ideal bride to fiancée John Willis... until, just before the ceremony, Willis is approached by Harry Blair, claiming to be Nancy's former husband. The tale Blair unfolds (in a flashback within a flashback within a flashback!) paints Nancy as a kleptomaniac, habitual liar, and perhaps worse. But is Blair telling the truth? And does fate have another surprise in store?

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Plot Keywords:

flashback | flashback within a flashback | flashback within a flashback within a flashback | wedding | painting | 

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Taglines:

Her Mysterious Secret Wrecked 3 Men's Lives! Not love, not money...but a haunting hunger drove her to lie, cheat, steal. Why? IT'S THE STRANGEST SECRET EVER TOLD! (original poster)

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Genres:

Film-Noir | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

What Nancy Wanted

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original screenplay "What Nancy Wanted" was written by Norma Barzman, who was married to blacklisted writer Ben Barzman. She sold the script to Hume Cronyn, who planned to direct the film with his wife Jessica Tandy starring. Cronyn then sold the script to RKO, which assigned Sheridan Gibney to rewrite the script.

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Goofs

American ambulances - shown driven with left hand drive - were not used in wartime London.

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Quotes

Mrs. Wendall: Do you approve of foolish marriages?
Mr. Wendall: Certainly. They alienate relatives.

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Connections

Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Fatale beauté (1997)

User Reviews

Masterful use of flashbacks.

Saw this for the first time on Turner Classic last night and was thoroughly impressed with the successful use of flashbacks that were clearly understood and served the story well.

There was no confusion for the viewer despite the complex storyline and varying points of view involved.

The mystery held me throughout. It was a matter of he said/she said that left you undecided, or at least unsure, of who was being truthful and who wasn't. Even the sequences in the flashbacks were reflecting one person's point of view and not necessarily what really happened.

I would highly recommend this movie to my friends who love good scripts and especially to any would-be screenwriters looking at the correct use of flashbacks in film.

Characters, plot line, direction, photography, acting: all excellent.