Three Secrets (1950)

Three women who secretly gave their new-born sons up for adoption in 1945, wonder if the 5-year old survivor of a plane crash, named in the local newspapers, is their long-abandoned son.

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 | sole survivor | rescue | california | adoption | 

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Taglines:

Don't judge these girls until you know their Three Secrets.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rock Bottom

Filming Locations:

Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,400,000, 31 December 1950

Company Credits

Production Co:

United States Pictures

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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Quotes

Bill Chase: Anything new on the Johnnie Peterson thing?
Susan Adele Connors Chase: Who's Johnnie Peterson?
Bill Chase: You mean you haven't heard?
Susan Adele Connors Chase: No.
Bill Chase: [Smiles] The good American housewife loves her radio first and her husband second.

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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.