Coming home from a late-night party, Southern California socialite Ann Sheridan (as Christine "Chris" Hunter) is attacked by a man outside the doorway to her home. The shadowy man shoves Ms. Sheridan inside the house, and an off-screen struggle ensues. We are permitted inside, with investigators, to discover Sheridan has stabbed her attacker to death. Soon, understanding lawyer Lew Ayres (as Lawrence "Larry Hannaford) and husband Zachary Scott (as Robert "Bob" Hunter) are there to comfort Sheridan. It seems like an easy self-defense case, but Sheridan may learn that, sometimes, dead men do tell tales
"The Unfaithful" is a familiar story, probably most recognizable in film as W. Somerset Maugham's "The Letter" (1940).
There isn't much admirable done with the story. Here, Sheridan's character is portrayed as a woman who "can only stand so much." Where Bette Davis (in 1940) seemed strong, Sheridan seems weak. And, her weakness is applied to women as a group. Note how Ayers' lawyer universally blames females for divorce. And, of course, nobody would question an overseas soldier's fidelity. Still, this version features great locations, and is beautifully photographed and directed by Ernest Haller and Vincent Sherman. Sheridan and the cast perform it well, and gossipy divorcée Eve Arden (as Paula) comes on strong near the end.
****** The Unfaithful (6/5/47) Vincent Sherman ~ Ann Sheridan, Lew Ayres, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden
"The Unfaithful" is a familiar story, probably most recognizable in film as W. Somerset Maugham's "The Letter" (1940).
There isn't much admirable done with the story. Here, Sheridan's character is portrayed as a woman who "can only stand so much." Where Bette Davis (in 1940) seemed strong, Sheridan seems weak. And, her weakness is applied to women as a group. Note how Ayers' lawyer universally blames females for divorce. And, of course, nobody would question an overseas soldier's fidelity. Still, this version features great locations, and is beautifully photographed and directed by Ernest Haller and Vincent Sherman. Sheridan and the cast perform it well, and gossipy divorcée Eve Arden (as Paula) comes on strong near the end.
****** The Unfaithful (6/5/47) Vincent Sherman ~ Ann Sheridan, Lew Ayres, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden