THE SECRET HEART
US, 1946, 97 minutes, Black and White.
Claudette Colbert, Walter Pidgeon, June Allyson, Robert Sterling, Marshall Thompson, Elizabeth Patterson, Richard Derr, Patricia Medina.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
The Secret Heart is a popular, emotional melodrama from the mid-'40s, presented with MGM's lavish production style. Claudette Colbert is expert at this kind of film. Walter Pidgeon is at his most genial. June Allyson, almost 30 at the time, portrays a 17-year-old girl with emotional problems.
The film has the various characters suffer, offer themselves in self-sacrifice, win out at the end - with the help of a bit of psychology from Lionel Barrymore. Direction is by Robert Z. Leonard, director of many such movies at MGM in the '30s and '40s.
1. Interesting and entertaining melodrama? From the '40s?
2. MGM production values, black and white photography? The musical score? Larry Addams' music?
3. The title, reference to whom? Relationships?
4. The structure of the film, the flashbacks, the psychological understandings? The interviews?
5. Lee and her story, going to the psychiatrist, her memories of Chris, meeting him on the boat, enjoying the voyage, marrying Larry, his drinking, the clashes, his taking Penny's side, picnic etc? Her going out with Chris to the dinner, the impact of his death, the money loss, her decisions, ten years away from Chris, paying the money back? The support from Chase? The visit to the farm, the dancing and Penny's outburst? To the city, the dinner with Chris? The confrontation with Penny, saving her?
6. Larry, setting up Chris and Lee? His drinking, love for his children, his angers, the money loss, special love for Penny (and her flashbacks)? Suicide?
7. Chris as pleasant, on the voyage, friendship and support? The ten years, offering Chase a job? Meeting the family again? Penny's infatuation? His buying the gift? Lee, buying the nightgown, the dinner? Support of Penny, being her father figure?
8. Penny and her moodiness, school, the psychiatrist, as a little girl with her father, the piano, jealous of Lee? Her meeting Brandon, pleasant, infatuated with Chris, talking with him, the outburst at the dancing, the misunderstandings, the locket? The truth about her father, Chase telling her, her impulse to suicide and vengeance? Her being saved, breaking down, school and graduation?
9. Chase and his support for Lee, navy, the job, love for Penny, relationship with Kay? Meeting Chris, telling Penny the truth?
10. Brandon, nice, the background of the navy, friendship with Chase, attraction towards Penny?
11. The serious and romantic sides of melodrama?
