The Secret Fury (1950)

During the ceremony marrying Ellen and David, a stranger stands up when that phrase "if anyone knows why these two may not be joined..." is spoken. The stranger announces that Ellen is ... See full summary »

Director:

Mel Ferrer

Writers:

Lionel Houser, Jack Leonard (story),

Stars:

Claudette Colbert, Robert Ryan, Jane Cowl

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Claudette Colbert	...	Ellen R. Ewing
Robert Ryan	...	David McLean
Jane Cowl	...	Aunt Clara Ewing
Paul Kelly	...	District Attorney Eric Lowell
Philip Ober	...	Gregory Kent
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Dr. Twining
Doris Dudley	...	Pearl Collins
Dave Barbour	...	Lucian Randall
Vivian Vance	...	Leah

Storyline

During the ceremony marrying Ellen and David, a stranger stands up when that phrase "if anyone knows why these two may not be joined..." is spoken. The stranger announces that Ellen is already married. Ellen however insists she is not, and the strain of proving she is telling the truth pushes her mind towards a breakdown and results in the death of the man she has supposedly already married (among others.) Ellen is charged with this death. But David believes in her innocence and sets out to uncover the conspiracy and the reason behind it.

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Plot Keywords:

conspiracy | insanity | trial | murder

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Taglines:

The Stranger at her wedding was a messenger of Fear and Evil!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die schwarze Lawine

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica City Hall, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Loring Theatre Corporation

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 Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 21, 1950 with Claudette Colbert and Robert Ryan reprising their film roles.

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Goofs

When David McLean (Robert Ryan) looks at the reflection of the name of the boat "MONSOON" it appears upside down, of course, but also backwards: it should have looked like "WONSOON", not "NOOSNOW" which is what Ellen (Claudette Colbert) believed it was.

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Connections

Referenced in Due soldi di speranza (1952)

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Soundtracks

"The Jazz Me Blues"
(uncredited)
Written by Tom Delaney

User Reviews

interesting, tricky mind game

I was surprised, that ''The Secret Fury'' was an enjoyable good film...... Probably because, I didn't have any expectations for this movie..... Though, the film does have it's plot holes..... I would say, that you couldn't guess who was behind the whole scheme, until the very end of the movie..... At first, I thought, it was Robert Ryan, using the same method, like ''Gaslight'' where husband tries to drive his wife mad, but I was wrong...... The main problem, with the movie is, they drive at a whole other direction, which gave no clues at the beginning...... I thought, Robert Ryan & Claudette Colbert carried their parts well...... Plus, Vivian Vance, a fine character actress, who steals scenes in this one...... Those who like movies, that keeps you guessing, will like this one......