The Second Woman (1950)

In flashback from a 'Rebecca'-style beginning: Ellen Foster, visiting her aunt on the California coast, meets neighbor Jeff Cohalan and his ultramodern clifftop house. Ellen is strongly ... See full summary »

Director:

James V. Kern

Writers:

Mort Briskin, Robert Smith

Stars:

Robert Young, Betsy Drake, John Sutton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Young	...	Jeff Cohalan
Betsy Drake	...	Ellen Foster
John Sutton	...	Keith Ferris
Florence Bates	...	Amelia Foster
Morris Carnovsky	...	Dr. Raymond Hartley
Henry O'Neill	...	Ben Sheppard
Jean Rogers	...	Dodo Ferris
Raymond Largay	...	Maj. Badger
Shirley Ballard	...	Vivian Sheppard
Vicki Raaf	...	Sue, Sheppard's Secretary (as Vici Raaf)
Jason Robards Sr.	...	Stacy Rogers (as Jason Robards)
Steven Geray	...	Balthazar Jones
Jimmie Dodd	...	Mr. Nelson (as Jimmy Dodd)
Smoki Whitfield	...	Albert, Club Car Waiter (as Smokey Whitfield)
Cliff Clark	...	Police Sergeant

Storyline

In flashback from a 'Rebecca'-style beginning: Ellen Foster, visiting her aunt on the California coast, meets neighbor Jeff Cohalan and his ultramodern clifftop house. Ellen is strongly attracted to Jeff, who's being plagued by unexplainable accidents, major and minor. Bad luck, persecution...or paranoia? Warned that Jeff could be dangerous, Ellen fears that he's in danger, as the menacing atmosphere darkens.

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Plot Keywords:

flashback | house | paranoia | arson | car exhaust | 

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Taglines:

Not since 'SPELLBOUND' a masterpiece of suspense like this!

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Here Lies Love

Filming Locations:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cardinal Pictures (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 'Matador' roses in this film are fictitious. The 'Matador' floribunda rose was not introduced until 1972.

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Quotes

Jeff Cohalan: Ellen, you'd better go now. You're not safe with me. Do you understand?
Ellen Foster: Suppose I don't want to be safe?

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Connections

References Rebecca (1940)

User Reviews

Even Though Jimmy Dodd's in It, It's Not Mickey Mouse

I really enjoyed this film. It has a fairly believable premise. I do have a little trouble with the self-sacrifice angle and the idea of taking things to the grave that could be dealt with, but it has lots of suspense and a cool ending. Robert Young is carrying around a secret. He is being daily harassed by someone. His dog is killed, his house is burned, his horse is harmed (to the point where it needs to be destroyed), and his livelihood (as an architect) is being compromised. He meets a young woman who makes him happy, but she can't convince him to come clean. There is a plot to portray him as psychotic (actually paranoid), He seems to have some handle on everything but won't say what it is. There is excellent cinematography. The pacing is quite good. I have to admit I never suspected what was going on. It's a captivating film. The acting is quite good. Oh, yes, as I see these films, I have seen the presence of Jimmy Dodd who was the head Mousketeer on the old Mickey Mouse Club show of the fifties. His acting portfolio is rather extensive though unimpressive.