Shadow on the Wall (film)
| Shadow on the Wall | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Pat Jackson |
| Produced by | Robert Sisk |
| Screenplay by | William Ludwig |
| Based on | the story "Death in the Doll's House" by Lawrence P. Bachmann Hannah Lees |
| Starring |
Ann Sothern Zachary Scott Gigi Perreau Nancy Davis |
| Music by | André Previn |
| Cinematography | Ray June |
| Edited by | Cotton Warburton |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $701,000 |
| Box office | $769,000 |
Shadow on the Wall is a 1950 American psychological thriller film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Ann Sothern, Zachary Scott, Gigi Perreau and Nancy Davis. It is based on the novel Death in the Doll's House by Lawrence P. Bachmann and Hannah Lees.
After a couple of small roles in MGM films, this was the first substantial featured role in a movie for Davis, who later became First Lady of the United States Nancy Reagan.
Child Susan Starrling (Gigi Perreau) is the sole witness to a killing, but the shock causes her to suffer amnesia about the event. Her father David (Zachary Scott) is convicted of first degree murder of his wife. However, psychiatrist Caroline Cranford (Nancy Davis) is convinced she can cure the young girl and begins to suspect that another person is guilty.
That person is Dell Faring (Ann Sothern), who became incensed after brother-in-law David discovered that while he was away serving his country, wife Celia (Kristine Miller) was having an affair with Dell's fiance, Crane Weymouth. A resentment already existed between the sisters because Dell felt this was not the first time Celia had selfishly taken something from her. Celia knocked David unconscious during a quarrel over her infidelity. Dell then arrived, picked up a gun David brought home from the war and killed her sister with it. With no memory of what happened, David can only assume he was the one who shot Celia, so he accepts the jury's verdict and the judge's sentence that he be put to death.
Susan, who saw the murder from the door but repressed the memory, is haunted by the image of a shadow on the wall. A distraught Dell, realizing that Dr. Cranford is trying to restore the girl's memory, attempts to murder the child. When she fails, she adopts Susan instead. Dell casts a shadow on the wall that triggers Susan's memory.
According to MGM records, the film earned $433,000 in the US and Canada and $192,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $330,000.
When first released The New York Times praised the acting, writing, "Nancy Davis is beautiful and convincing as the serious psychiatrist who uses affection and play therapy to delve into the youngster's mind for the evidence needed for both a cure and the eventual exposure of the criminal. Gigi Perreau is excellent as the mentally tortured moppet, and Zachary Scott does a realistic job as her architect father and wrongly convicted murderer. Kristine Miller is competent in the brief role of the victim, but Ann Sothern, who turns in a polished portrayal, seems out of character as the worried villainess of the piece. List Shadow on the Wall as obvious but interesting fare."
...
Wikipedia