SHADOW ON THE WALL

US, 1949, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Ann Sothern, Zachary Scott, Gigi Perreau, Nancy Davis, Kristine Miller, John M Intire.
Directed by Pat Jackson.

Shadow on the Wall is a brief, effective supporting thriller. It has the MGM production values, a competent cast, as well as an interesting plot.

Ann Sothern is interesting as the murderess, Zachary Scott as the doomed husband. Gigi Perreau is effective as the child who has witnessed the murder and Nancy Davis has a good role as a nurse.

1. Entertaining thriller? Murder thriller? The focus on the child and the evidence?

2. Supporting feature: black and white photography? Cast? Musical score?

3. The title and the clue to the solution? The Indian doll? The cupid?

4. The focus on Susan, the death of her mother, her father's absence, coming home, remarriage? Her witnessing the murder? Her fears, the trauma? In therapy? Talking in the third person about the dolls? The attack on her? Aunty Dell? The visit to her father in prison? Dependence on Dr Canford? Return to the house? Seeing the shadow on the wall and her cries, identifying Dell?

5. The basic set-up: David, the marriage to Celia, the relationship with Crane? As Dell's sister and Dell's resentment of her taking everything from her? Her engagement to Crane? The lies about the theatre? The affair? David and his confrontation, the gun, Celia's attack on him? Dell and her coming, the gun, her outburst and shooting?

6. David, unconscious, thinking that he had killed his wife? Condemned? In prison? Concerned about his daughter? The vindication?

7. Dell, her writing the confession but not posting it? Her interest in Susan, the concern about the therapy? The phone call about the evidence of a child in court? The visit to David and getting custody of Susan? Her observation of the therapy? Getting rid of her clothes and the evidence? The irony of the shadow on the wall?

8. Celia, her betrayal of her husband? Crane and his suave manner, lies?

9. Dr Canford, the family lawyer, their concern about Susan, the therapy, the skill in drawing out the doll stories? The re-enactment in the house?

10. Satisfying thriller? Romantic melodrama?