Three Secrets (1950)

A five-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash in the mountains of California. When the newspapers reveal the boy was adopted and that the crash occurred on his ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Martin Rackin, Gina Kaus,

Stars:

Eleanor Parker, Patricia Neal, Ruth Roman

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Eleanor Parker	...	Susan Adele Connors Chase
Patricia Neal	...	Phyllis Horn
Ruth Roman	...	Ann Lawrence
Frank Lovejoy	...	Bob Duffy
Leif Erickson	...	Bill Chase
Ted de Corsia	...	Del Prince
Edmon Ryan	...	Hardin
Larry Keating	...	Mark Harrison
Katherine Warren	...	Mrs. Connors
Arthur Franz	...	Paul Radin

Storyline

A five-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash in the mountains of California. When the newspapers reveal the boy was adopted and that the crash occurred on his birthday, three women begin to ponder if it's the son each gave up for adoption. As the three await news of his rescue at a mountain cabin, they recall incidents from five years earlier and why they were forced to give up their son.

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Plot Keywords:

mountain | adoption | california | rescue | murder | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 1951 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Rock Bottom

Filming Locations:

Mt. Waterman, Angeles National Forest, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

United States Pictures, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Billy Bevan.

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Goofs

When Susan walks through the camp at the base of the mountain, the filming crew is briefly reflected on a car window. A man wears a white t-shirt while another is wearing a checked shirt.

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Connections

Remade as Three Secrets (1999)

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Soundtracks

"I Get a Kick out of You"
Written by Cole Porter
Played often during the Phyllis Horn segment

User Reviews

Three stars shine in low-key melodrama directed by Robert Wise...

Whatever suspense THREE SECRETS has is derived from the audience not knowing (until the end) which woman's boy has survived a plane crash. Each woman (ELEANOR PARKER, RUTH ROMAN and PATRICIA NEAL) thinks it's her own abandoned five year-old son. As they wait patiently for more news on the identity of the boy, each woman reflects in flashbacks on what led up to their heart-breaking decision.

Robert Wise has directed all of the melodrama with some fine touches and a steady hand, so that Parker, Roman and Neal are all seen to advantage in a plot vaguely similar to that of A LETTER TO THREE WIVES in which three women await news on which husband deserted them.

Parker is a woman who had an illegitimate child; Roman had to give up her child while she served a jail term; Neal was a career woman who preferred career to domestic chores.

Sensibily acted and directed, it's a rather low-key melodrama that might not meet the demands of fans not enthusiastic about so-called chick flicks.