The Unfaithful (1947)

Chris Hunter kills an intruder and tells her husband and lawyer it was an act of self-defense. It's later revealed that he was actually her lover and she had posed for an incriminating ... See full summary »

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

David Goodis (original screenplay), James Gunn (original screenplay),

Stars:

Ann Sheridan, Lew Ayres, Zachary Scott

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ann Sheridan	...	Chris Hunter
Lew Ayres	...	Larry Hannaford
Zachary Scott	...	Bob Hunter
Eve Arden	...	Paula
Jerome Cowan	...	Prosecuting Attorney
Steven Geray	...	Martin Barrow
John Hoyt	...	Det. Lt. Reynolds
Peggy Knudsen	...	Claire
Marta Mitrovich	...	Mrs. Tanner
Douglas Kennedy	...	Roger
Claire Meade	...	Martha
Frances Morris	...	Agnes
Jane Harker	...	Joan

Storyline

Chris Hunter kills an intruder and tells her husband and lawyer it was an act of self-defense. It's later revealed that he was actually her lover and she had posed for an incriminating statue he created.

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Plot Keywords:

adultery | orchestral music score | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 June 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ehebruch

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "The Letter" (and adapted for this film) by W. Somerset Maugham opened at the Morosco Theater on September 26, 1927 and ran for 104 performances.

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Connections

Version of Producers' Showcase: The Letter (1956)

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Soundtracks

"Deep Night"
(uncredited)
Music by Charles Henderson
Heard in the restaurant

User Reviews

Piercing the Pre-War Paradigm

This combination of a murder mystery and post-war reclamation of Family life is Film-Noir at its definition but not in its execution. It is handled quite regularly and straightforward, aside from some very effective L.A. street scenes that evoke Noir overtones.

It's most effective in its "new" Hollywood discovering of extramarital affairs brought on by quick vows and hasty deployment by our Military. Predictably some of these quick, for convenience Marriages could not hold true, especially for the left alone "War Widows" who had little time to fall deeply in love with their Husbands.

The mystery and courtroom part pales in comparison to the social drama and infidelity conundrums, and it is the deconstructing psychology of this unfortunate situation that compels this to above average Cinema. Eve Arden's accurate understanding insight and delineation speech is quite a mid 1940's welcome revelation to Movie audiences. It was this very seldom open discussion about private affairs that elevates this one and moves it to the periphery of Film-Noir.