A Woman's Secret

When a gunshot brings the maid rushing into the bedroom, she discovers "Susan" (Gloria Grahame) is the victim, and that her mentor "Marian" (Maureen O'Hara) is holding the smoking gun. When the police arrive, "Marian" confesses to trying to kill her, but with her victim still alive we will have to wait to hear her version of events. Meantime, her manager "Jordan" (Melvyn Douglas) doesn't understand why "Marian" would want to injure her talented young protégée, indeed - neither can policeman "Fowler" (Jay C. Flippen). The two are investigating but just going around in circles until "Mrs. Fowler" (Mary Philips) takes an hand in helping her husband to get to the bottom of the mystery. Though she really only appears towards the end, it's Philips who steals the show piecing together what few clues there are, but sadly that's not really enough to steer this from mediocrity - despite it's starring credentials. Graham spends most of it under bandages, O'Hara in the clink and whilst Douglas does his debonaire best it all just rather peters out to a conclusion that doesn't really matter. The title does way more to generate a sense of intrigue and peril than the drama itself, and though it's perfectly watchable, it's also perfectly forgettable.