20th Century-Fox Dynamo (1954)

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Writer-Producer-Director Nunnally Johnson uses a clever series of flashbacks to establish each suspect's version of the slaying in " Black Widow.” When Peter (Van Heflin) sus- pects Brian (Reginald Gardiner) may have done the killing, he calls on the latter and draws a confession from him. Brian says he had an affair with Nanny ( Peggy Ann Garner). The romance was going along famously until Nanny told him she was pregnant and insisted on marriage. Later, Nanny phones Brian from Peter’s apartment, explaining how she plans to blackmail the latter to enable them to marry. Later, Detective Bruce (George Raft) arrives, displays a hidden microphone that has picked up the entire confession to Peter and urges Brian to continue. Brian does so, but insists he did not kill the girl. At this point Lottie (Ginger Rogers), his wife, breaks in and says she knew Nanny was Peter’s girl, not Brian’s, and offers to make a statement to that effect for the record. But, Bruce interrupts to tell his version of the crime., .that Lottie," hearing Nanny and Brian on the ex- tension phone, had raced down to Peter’s apartment, threa- tened Nanny, who turned on her, and then in the ensuing fight Lottie strangled die girl. As in "Laura” the actual killer’s exposure comes as a staggering surprise. Nunnally Johnson, who has written 38 screenplays, being associated with this company since 1933, has made to "Black Widow” a mystery that is definitely off the beaten path. Even when the murderer is found, Peter and Iris (Gene Tierney), his wife, are convinced the killer will not only be acquitted, because of her great ability, but instead be placed on a pedestal. Above, Peter is shocked to find Nanny’s body hanging in his bedroom. Everybody in the screenplay has a motive for wanting to kill the girl. Because evidence is so against him, it is obvious, too, at the outset of the picture that Peter is not the guilty person. But, even his wife is in doubt. When Iris reads Nanny’s letter accusing Peter of reneging on a promise to marry her, after supposedly rendering her pregnant, the actress refused to be- lieve his statement that it is all a lie. However, when ques- tioned by the police, Iris testifies that Peter may be dumb about some things, but he is not dumb enough to commit mur- der, although believing he had had an affair with the girl. Critics wherever "Black Widow” has opened, agree that it is every bit as intriguing and surprising as was "Laura.” Page 9A