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

Solid drama, but .....

Three women review their past lives while they wait for news that will change the future totally for one of them.

But it isn't "Letter to Three Wives"!

Putting aside the shameless use of the formula from Mankiewicz' masterwork, "Three Secrets" is an enjoyable, well-written drama. Another similarity to "... Three Wives", and one that I have no objection to, is leads Patricia Neal, Eleanor Parker & Ruth Roman being mature, extremely attractive women; not a teenybopper or nymphet in sight.

A second movie that came to mind while watching "Three Secrets" was "The Big Carnival" with its media circus of cynical reporters covering and exploiting a disaster. However Wilder's film followed this one.

The beautiful Cole Porter tune `I get a kick out of you' is well used on the soundtrack.