THE SECOND WOMAN

US, 1950, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Young, Betsy Drake, John Sutton, Florence Bates, Henry O’Neill?, Morris Carnovsky.
Directed by James V. Kern.

The Second Woman is a small-budget film noir of 1950, reminiscent in aspects of its plot with Hitchcock’s Rebecca. Robert Young plays an architect with psychological problems, it would seem. Betsy Drake plays a neighbour who becomes emotionally involved with Robert Young, but is caught up in a murder mystery. Florence Bates steals her scenes as Betsy Drake’s aunt. There are various villains, including John Sutton, plotting against Young. However, the murderer is finally revealed - with a strong twist at the end.
The film is enjoyable of its kind, though rather slight in comparison with similar films.
1. A film noir at the end of the 1940s? Emphasis on psychology, paranoia?
2. The plot echoes of Rebecca, the mysterious dead woman, the second woman, the memories of the first? The mansion?
3. A murder mystery? The possible suspects? The final twists?
4. Black and white photography, the cast, thriller aspects, romantic aspects?
5. Ellen and the voiceover, a house, her memories, going into the house, and Amelia’s concern, antagonism towards Jeff, going to the garage, the attempted suicide?
6. Ellen and her story, coming from Minnesota to see her aunt, the encounter in the train, Jeff and his reading the tea leaves, knowing that she would come, the attraction to Ellen? their meetings? On the beach, his home, her admiration, the picture of the woman, the broken vows, Vivienne’s death and the accident, the later poison of the bush, the horse and its broken roof, the death of the dog, the burning of the house?
7. Jeff and his relationship with Ben, about to marry Ben’s daughter, Ben as a father-figure? The discussions and the office? With Keith? The plans for the building? The later revelation they were incomplete, his losing the contract?
8. Ellen, strong-minded, attracted to Jeff, trying to help, the puzzle of the accidents? The socials, Keith and his advances? Jeff and his moods? The background of her actuarial work? The percentage chances of such accidents happening to one person? her investigations, about the arsenic, the driver at the accident, her testing Jeff and the speed of his driving?
9. Keith, sleazy, his divorce, his ex-wife, her distaste? His antagonism towards Jeff? Wanting Ben to leave him his fortune? His being a suspect? The revelation that he was the driver when Vivienne was killed?
10. Aunt Amelia, friendly, helping Ellen, the socials, wariness of Jeff?
11. The doctor, his concerns, friendliness, information to Ellen, the issue of paranoia? The irony that Ben took this idea from the doctor?
12. The search about the painting, the sun lamp and its bleaching the painting? The art expert, the list of people who knew the artist, the phone calls, finding out that Ben had the painting?
13. Jeff, the attempted suicide, his setting it up, so that Ellen would not be a target, but that he would be saved?
14. The final confrontation with Ben, Ben and the paranoia, his obsession with Vivienne, animosity towards Jeff, trying to destroy him? His discovery that Keith was the driver? His collapse?
15. How well did the film combine its elements of mystery, suspense, romance?