Shadow On The Wall (1950) Movie Summary
Film is a time-capsule for what passed for psychiatric treatment in the ’50s
Key Points
Thankfully, it’s a brief melodrama. Zachary Scott portrays a darling of a travelling businessman who returns to his New York apartment to his little daughter (Gigi Perreau), whom he adores, and her step-mother, whom he finds is having an affair with her sister’s fiancé, the resentful and daffy Dell, in fast time (Ann Sothern).
The discussion between Scott and his wife quickly becomes heated. His wife, fearful that he is ready to shoot her, smacks him across the face with her hand-mirror. Sothern, who had come to chastise her sister, sees an opportunity and shoots her after ascertaining that Scott is still alive.
All of this is observed by the little girl, who, in shock, forgets about it, and Scott is quickly convicted of murder. Though they have no idea what the kid knows, Scott’s devoted lawyer (John McIntire in an unusually avuncular character) and a child psychiatrist (Nancy Davis, later Reagan) must peel the youngster out of her detached condition and unlock the suppressed memory.
Sothern does, and despite her remorse, she continues attempting to kill her niece while appearing as the sweet caring aunt, despite Nancy’s refusal to say no. The suspenseful conclusion exposes everything. Despite being modest and extremely 1950s, it serves as a time capsule for what was considered acceptable mental therapy at the time.
Shadow On The Wall (1950) Movie Review
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 Reagan. It is based on the novel Death in the Doll’s House by Hannah Lees and Lawrence P. Bachmann.
The plot revolves around a woman who impulsively murders her sister after discovering she has been having an affair with her fiancé, and later plans on killing the little girl who may have witnessed the crime. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Sothern and Perreau, but criticized the implausible story and the lack of suspense
If you want to learn more about Shadow On The Wall, you can check out some of the links below:
IMDb page for the full cast and crew, trivia, and user reviews.
Wikipedia page for the plot summary, production details, and reception.
The Movie Database page for the poster, ratings, and social reviews.
MUBI page for the cast and crew information.
The A.V. Club review for a critical analysis of the film.
