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Black Widow

  • 1954
  • Approved
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Black Widow (1954)
A young writer insinuates herself into the life of a Broadway producer.
Play trailer2:32
1 Video
46 Photos
DramaFilm-NoirMystery

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

  • Director
    • Nunnally Johnson
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson
    • Hugh Wheeler
    • Richard W. Webb
  • Stars
    • Ginger Rogers
    • Van Heflin
    • Gene Tierney
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nunnally Johnson
    • Writers
      • Nunnally Johnson
      • Hugh Wheeler
      • Richard W. Webb
    • Stars
      • Ginger Rogers
      • Van Heflin
      • Gene Tierney
    • 67User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Trailer

    Photos46

    Gene Tierney and Ginger Rogers in Black Widow (1954)
    Van Heflin and Peggy Ann Garner in Black Widow (1954)
    Gene Tierney and Ginger Rogers in Black Widow (1954)
    Van Heflin and Peggy Ann Garner in Black Widow (1954)
    Gene Tierney in Laura (1944)
    Gene Tierney, Van Heflin, Ginger Rogers, and George Raft in Black Widow (1954)
    Ginger Rogers and Reginald Gardiner in Black Widow (1954)
    Gene Tierney and Van Heflin in Black Widow (1954)
    Harry Carter and George Raft in Black Widow (1954)
    Ginger Rogers in Black Widow (1954)
    Peggy Ann Garner and Virginia Leith in Black Widow (1954)
    Reginald Gardiner and Peggy Ann Garner in Black Widow (1954)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ginger Rogers
    Ginger Rogers
    • Carlotta 'Lottie' Marin
    Van Heflin
    Van Heflin
    • Peter Denver
    Gene Tierney
    Gene Tierney
    • Iris Denver
    George Raft
    George Raft
    • Detective Lt. C.A. Bruce
    Peggy Ann Garner
    Peggy Ann Garner
    • Nancy 'Nanny' Ordway
    Reginald Gardiner
    Reginald Gardiner
    • Brian Mullen
    Virginia Leith
    Virginia Leith
    • Claire Amberly
    Otto Kruger
    Otto Kruger
    • Gordon Ling
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    • Lucia Colletti
    Skip Homeier
    Skip Homeier
    • John Amberly
    Hilda Simms
    Hilda Simms
    • Anne
    Mabel Albertson
    Mabel Albertson
    • Sylvia
    • (uncredited)
    Bea Benaderet
    Bea Benaderet
    • Mrs. Franklin Walsh
    • (uncredited)
    Nesdon Booth
    • Police A.P.B. Man
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Steve Carruthers
    Steve Carruthers
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Carter
    Harry Carter
    • Police Sgt. Welch
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Cristo
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Nunnally Johnson
    • Writers
      • Nunnally Johnson
      • Hugh Wheeler
      • Richard W. Webb
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Black Widow

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Nunnally Johnson originally offered the role played by Ginger Rogers to Tallulah Bankhead, who called the writer-producer and, in a 25-minute phone conversation, gave him her reasons for rejecting the role. Rogers turned the part down as well, but had a change of heart after Johnson sent her a letter asking her to reconsider, on the proviso that she could take the relatively minor role and make it into a star-turn.
    • Quotes

      [opening narration]

      Peter Denver: The Black Widow, deadliest of all spiders, earned its dark title through its deplorable practice of devouring its mate.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown over the background of a spider web made by a black widow.
    • Connections
      Featured in Ginger Rogers at Twentieth Century Fox (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Dance of the Seven Veils
      Theme

      from "Salome"

      by Richard Strauss

      Played occasionally throughout the picture

    User reviews67

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    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 ****
    helpful•38
    7
    • moonspinner55
    • Dec 3, 2005

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 4, 1955 (Belgium)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Crna udovica
    • Filming locations
      • West 24th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, New York City, New York, USA(Establishing shot for artists studio)
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,095,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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