After World War II, Hollywood embarked upon making many films with psychological themes. The war had changed a lot of things, and people who came back from it were not the same.
In "The Secret Heart" from 1946, we learn the tragic story of a gifted pianist, Larry Addams, who wasn't able to pursue music as a career. After his wife dies, he marries Lee (Claudette Colbert), which also means she takes on his two young children, Penny (June Allyson) and Chase (Robert Sterling).
Larry turns to alcohol and also steals from his company. One night, he refuses to attend a party with Lee, content to drink and play the piano at home. Lee has a great time, dancing with their mutual friend Chris (Walter Pidgeon), whom Lee met while she was engaged to Larry. Chris fell for her, but Lee went ahead and married Larry, though everyone stayed friends. When she gets home from the party and a visit to a nightclub, Larry is dead, a suicide.
Lee keeps the headlines about his embezzlement from the children and tells them that their father died in a car accident. She then sets out to work and repay all of his debts. Because of Penny's resentment of her, Lee tells Chris that he needs to keep away from them, and she devotes herself to the children.
Penny as a teenager is quite disturbed, still upset about her father's death and feeling that she is a lot like him. Lee seeks psychiatric help for her. The psychiatrist tells Lee that Penny should know the truth about her father.
Lee's first move is to re-open their old farm, which is right near Chris', which will make Penny happy. Her brother Chase, home from the service, introduces her to a young soldier friend (Marshall Thompson), and he becomes very interested in Penny. Chris starts coming around. It looks as though everything is going in the right direction. Except no one realizes that Penny has another interest.
This is a good movie, a little on the noir side, and it's a chance to see June Allyson do something besides enthusiasm. I had seen her dramatic side before and knew she had a wider range, but I imagine it is a surprise for some. Colbert is absolutely beautiful and does well as a lovely, sympathetic woman who only wants what is best for Larry's children. Robert Sterling is amiable and attractive, as is Marshall Thompson. Both of them found success in television a few years later.
There's an aura of suspense around the film, as well as a warmth, thanks to Colbert and Pidgeon. It's an interesting story of how one man's deeds affect the next generation and the woman and friend he leaves behind.
In "The Secret Heart" from 1946, we learn the tragic story of a gifted pianist, Larry Addams, who wasn't able to pursue music as a career. After his wife dies, he marries Lee (Claudette Colbert), which also means she takes on his two young children, Penny (June Allyson) and Chase (Robert Sterling).
Larry turns to alcohol and also steals from his company. One night, he refuses to attend a party with Lee, content to drink and play the piano at home. Lee has a great time, dancing with their mutual friend Chris (Walter Pidgeon), whom Lee met while she was engaged to Larry. Chris fell for her, but Lee went ahead and married Larry, though everyone stayed friends. When she gets home from the party and a visit to a nightclub, Larry is dead, a suicide.
Lee keeps the headlines about his embezzlement from the children and tells them that their father died in a car accident. She then sets out to work and repay all of his debts. Because of Penny's resentment of her, Lee tells Chris that he needs to keep away from them, and she devotes herself to the children.
Penny as a teenager is quite disturbed, still upset about her father's death and feeling that she is a lot like him. Lee seeks psychiatric help for her. The psychiatrist tells Lee that Penny should know the truth about her father.
Lee's first move is to re-open their old farm, which is right near Chris', which will make Penny happy. Her brother Chase, home from the service, introduces her to a young soldier friend (Marshall Thompson), and he becomes very interested in Penny. Chris starts coming around. It looks as though everything is going in the right direction. Except no one realizes that Penny has another interest.
This is a good movie, a little on the noir side, and it's a chance to see June Allyson do something besides enthusiasm. I had seen her dramatic side before and knew she had a wider range, but I imagine it is a surprise for some. Colbert is absolutely beautiful and does well as a lovely, sympathetic woman who only wants what is best for Larry's children. Robert Sterling is amiable and attractive, as is Marshall Thompson. Both of them found success in television a few years later.
There's an aura of suspense around the film, as well as a warmth, thanks to Colbert and Pidgeon. It's an interesting story of how one man's deeds affect the next generation and the woman and friend he leaves behind.