Black Widow (1954)

A young writer insinuates herself into the life of a Broadway producer.

Director:

Nunnally Johnson

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (screen play), Hugh Wheeler (novel),

Stars:

Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ginger Rogers	...	Carlotta 'Lottie' Marin
Van Heflin	...	Peter Denver
Gene Tierney	...	Iris Denver
George Raft	...	Detective Lt. C.A. Bruce
Peggy Ann Garner	...	Nancy 'Nanny' Ordway
Reginald Gardiner	...	Brian Mullen
Virginia Leith	...	Claire Amberly
Otto Kruger	...	Gordon Ling
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Lucia Colletti
Skip Homeier	...	John Amberly
Hilda Simms	...	Anne
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony De Mario	...	Tony, Bartender
James Stone	...	Fritz, Stage Door Attendant

Storyline

A married Broadway producer is taken with an innocent young woman who wants to be a writer and make it on Broadway. He decides to take her under his wing, but it's not long before the young lady is found dead in his apartment. At first thought to be a suicide, it is later discovered that she has been murdered, and suspicion immediately falls on the producer. He begins his own investigation in order to clear his name, and one of the first things he finds out is that the young woman wasn't quite as naive and innocent as she appeared to be.

---

Plot Keywords:

broadway producer | kept husband | stage actress | death of pregnant woman | apparent suicide | 

---

Taglines:

One of them will kill her tonight! and your guess is as good as ours!

---

Genres:

Drama | Mystery

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1955 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

A Viúva Negra

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Allyn Joslyn reportedly turned down the role played by Reginald Gardiner, because plot would have required him to become romantically involved and impregnate character portrayed by former child actress Peggy Ann Garner--who had role as his own daughter in same studio's hit Junior Miss nine years earlier.

---

Goofs

Early in the movie, at Lottie's party the waiter first pauses with a full tray of assorted drinks--then passes uninterrupted through the crowd to offer the single remaining drink to Peter Denver.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Peter Denver: I hope you find your mother better, honey.

---

Connections

References Dragnet (1951)

---

Soundtracks

"I Know Why (and So Do You)"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played when Peter arrives at Lottie's party

User Reviews

Well-acted, well-upholstered soap opera/murder mystery...

Van Heflin gives a striking, forceful performance as a theatrical producer in New York City who befriends a lonely 20-year-old girl at a party; she's a would-be writer hoping for success, he takes a shine to her and offers a helping hand...but then she turns up dead! Curiously mistitled drama really doesn't involve "a predatory female". Peggy Ann Garner is intriguing as the youngster who, in flashbacks, is revealed to be scheming and ambitious, somewhat ruthless, but not a black widow. Gene Tierney has a thankless role as Heflin's wife (she looks grim throughout), but Ginger Rogers is fun as a colorful, gossiping actress. The film has some ridiculous passages, red herrings and side-plots (one involving another young woman who appears to be fabricating a wild story just to frame Heflin is never explored), and a slightly anti-climactic finish. The film looks good and has some funny/catty lines in the beginning, but in the end it all seems a bit silly. **1/2 from ****