Failed singer Marian Washburn confesses she shot her friend, successful singer Susan Caldwell, but her manager Luke Jordan and Detective Fowler doubt her story and cannot establish a reasonable motive.
On this IMDbrief, we break down the worst gifts ever given in our favorite holiday movies. For some great gift ideas, check out IMDb's Holiday Gift Guide, curated with the entertainment lover in mind!
Related News
-
94-Year-Old O'Hara Finally Gets Academy Recognition Tonight
09 November 2014 | Alt Film Guide
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: A Woman's Secret (1949)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
Born to Be Bad
(1950)
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Nicholas Ray
Stars:
Mel Ferrer,
Joan Fontaine,
Robert Ryan
On Dangerous Ground
(1951)
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Directors:
Nicholas Ray,
Ida Lupino
Stars:
Ida Lupino,
Robert Ryan,
Ward Bond
The Lusty Men
(1952)
Action
|
Drama
|
Sport
Directors:
Nicholas Ray,
Robert Parrish
Stars:
Susan Hayward,
Robert Mitchum,
Arthur Kennedy
Macao
(1952)
Certificate: Passed
Adventure
|
Crime
|
Drama
Directors:
Josef von Sternberg,
Nicholas Ray
Stars:
Robert Mitchum,
Jane Russell,
William Bendix
The Tattooed Stranger
(1950)
Certificate: Passed
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Edward Montagne
Stars:
John Miles,
Patricia Barry,
Walter Kinsella
The People Against O'Hara
(1951)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
John Sturges
Stars:
Spencer Tracy,
Pat O'Brien,
Diana Lynn
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Robert Z. Leonard
Stars:
Greta Garbo,
Clark Gable,
Jean Hersholt
Nocturne
(1946)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Edwin L. Marin
Stars:
George Raft,
Lynn Bari,
Virginia Huston
Night Must Fall
(1964)
Crime
|
Thriller
Director:
Karel Reisz
Stars:
Albert Finney,
Susan Hampshire,
Mona Washbourne
The Spanish Main
(1945)
Certificate: Passed
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Frank Borzage
Stars:
Paul Henreid,
Maureen O'Hara,
Walter Slezak
Shadow on the Wall
(1950)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Pat Jackson
Stars:
Ann Sothern,
Zachary Scott,
Gigi Perreau
That Uncertain Feeling
(1941)
Certificate: Passed
Comedy
Director:
Ernst Lubitsch
Stars:
Merle Oberon,
Melvyn Douglas,
Burgess Meredith
Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Maureen O'Hara | ... | Marian Washburn | |
| Melvyn Douglas | ... | Luke Jordan | |
| Gloria Grahame | ... | Susan Caldwell | |
| Bill Williams | ... | Lee Crenshaw | |
| Victor Jory | ... | Brook Matthews | |
| Mary Philips | ... | Mary Fowler | |
| Jay C. Flippen | ... | Jim Fowler | |
| Robert Warwick | ... | Roberts | |
 |
Curt Conway | ... | Doctor |
| Ann Shoemaker | ... | Mrs. Matthews | |
| Virginia Farmer | ... | Mollie | |
| Ellen Corby | ... | Nurse | |
| Emory Parnell | ... | Desk Sergeant | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Susan is in the hospital with a bullet near her heart. Marian has told the police that she shot Susan in a rage as Susan was giving up singing. Marian and Luke found Susan when she was a failure. A singer with a limited range, she was a diamond in the rough which Marian and Luke taught how to walk, dress and talk. With the singing lessons, Marian had hoped that she would have the career that Marian would have had if she had not lost her voice. Even though Susan is a scatterbrain girl, Luke does not believe that Marian would have been capable of shooting her. Luke hopes that Detective Fowler will be able to find out the truth and free Marian. Written by Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>
Taglines:
I had to stop her ... at any cost ... that's why I pulled the trigger !Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
7 February 1949 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Mortgage on Life See more »Filming Locations:
Hollywood, California, USAEdit
Box Office
Budget:
$853,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This film's initial television presentations took place in Memphis Sunday 4 Marc h 1956 on WHBQ (Channel 13) and in Los Angeles Tuesday 1 May 1956 on KHJ (Channel 9). See more »Goofs
During the "incident" at the beginning of the film the shadow of the boom mike is visible in the reflection of the mirror. See more »Quotes
Jim Fowler: I'll admit mister that I've heard stories that make less sense than that. They happen to be true.See more »
Crazy Credits
Opening and closing credits are displayed on a page of sheet music. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.On IMDb TV, you can catch Hollywood hits and popular TV series at no cost. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free!
Explore popular action and adventure titles available to stream with Prime Video.
Maureen O'Hara loses her voice to one of those strange diseases that abound in movies, and drives a young woman (Gloria Grahame) as an understudy. That is where the fun begins. The story is told in flashback, and is reminiscent of All About Eve, although as if told in reverse. Melvyn Douglas is a forerunner of Addison de Witt and the viewer can see resemblances in the other characters. This is probably one of Gloria Grahames' best performances, with Melvyn Douglas giving a polished display and Jay C Flippen as the Police Inspector a delight. The end is a trifle weak, and slightly confusing, but this sleeper is a great little time filler. Don't expect it ever to appear in any list of greatest movies of all time however.