Shadow of a Woman (Warner Bros.) (1946)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION THIS IS THE SToRY (Not for Publication) N In the office of the Chief of Detectives in San Francisco, Brook Ryder (Andrea King) is asked to make a complete statement. Almost tearfully, she begins: The screen flashes back to Brook's honeymoon with Dr. Eric Ryder (Helmut Dantine), at a hotel along the California coast. Eric and Brook met only recently and married after a whirlwind, five-day courtship. The bride knows little or nothing of her husband except that he is a practitioner who holds that diet will cure most human ailments. As Brook and Eric relax on the beach, a huge boulder crashes down from a cliff above, narrowly missing Eric. He is saved from death only by Brook's alert cry of warning. Brook has a feeling that the falling boulder was no accident. She is right. The couple leave the hotel and go to Eric's mountain retreat to continue their honeymoon. They are followed by two men. The evening of their arrival, a second attempt on Eric's life is made when a shotgun bullet just misses him as he stands out on the porch. Shortly after the shooting incident, the two men who have followed the newlyweds up from the hotel arrive at the cabin. They are David MacKellar (William Prince) and Johnnie (Don McGuire), attorney and photographer respectively, who jump from their car and shoot a picture of Brook in Eric's arms. Eric reveals to Brook that he has been married before and has a five-year-old son, Philip (Larry Geiger). His ex-wife is Louise Ryder (Peggy Knudsen). There has been considerable controversy over the custody of the child. Eric admits his new marriage will put him in a more favorable light for any future court rulings. Eric informs Brook that they will live in his San Francisco home where he supports his sister Emma (Lisa Golm), and his crippled nephew Carl (John Alvin). When they arrive in San Francisco, Brook is confronted by a most depressing establishment and is quickly initiated into the peculiar diet served to all members of Eric's family. During a one-entree meal, Brook learns that little Philip will inherit a million dollars when he comes of age. The night of their return, Mrs. Calvin (Leah Baird) calls Eric professionally. She is very ill and he treats her with hypnotism but she dies the following day after surgery has been tried—too late—by a reputable doctor. Incensed and ready to accuse Eric of murder, Mrs. Calvin's daughter Genevieve (Becky Brown) dies a few hours later when Eric administers an overdose of sleeping pills. Brook, meanwhile, convinced that Eric is trying to starve his son to the point of being unable to resist any common malady that may come along, launches an investigation of her own. Eric soon realizes that Brook has joined forces with MacKellar, Carl and Emma in trying to frustrate his murderous schemes; and, further, that they know he is responsible for the deaths of Mrs. Calvin and Genevieve. He orders Carl and Emma from the house but Brook offers them temporary shelter in her Burlingame home. Brook is preparing to take young Philip to his mother, when she is interrupted by Eric's return to the house. He attempts to kill her but is prevented from doing so by the timely re-entrance of Carl. In the ensuing struggle between the two men, Eric is thrown back against the weakened balcony railing which breaks, catapulting Eric to his death hundreds of feet below. The scene fades back into the Detective's office. Brook's story is ended. The Chief seems incredulous, deliberates over the possibility that Eric might have been the victim of a deliberately murderous shove, not an accidental fall. He thinks Brook had best consult a lawyer and, going to the door, he calls in MacKellar. Then, grinning, he informs MacKellar that his client is free to leave—he has no reason to hold her. Brook and MacKellar leave arm in arm, as the Chief's grin changes to a benevolent smile. THIS IS THE Cast ONS TEE A aaa eee ee fe HELMUT DANTINE CR os eer bone rr carer ANDREA KING hs ae ie eee ian cree William Prince SP Re ep Gan ER: eae ERS: Ot = John Alvin pai Rite eas Becky Brown PE RET SA See RENCE 2 hea PEERS Dick Erdman Mia, Lowe RyGer 3.3. sic cee: Peggy Knudsen SUR Ss aise teh ene Don McGuire ee te eee a a Gia Ae Lisa Golm PUR oss as css a Soo ison nice Larry Geiger Dr Nemon Mares 8 2 i a Paul Stanton Polmeingienant 46 as Monte Blue oe ees ee Jack Smart Seas Ray tire aie AEN Oe Leah Baird Spots at PR ote ne te Nk ge ge Lottie Williams Country of Origin U.S.A. Copyright 1946 Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Corporation THIS IS THE PRODUCTION STAFF Produced by William Jacobs. Directed by Joseph Santley. Screen Play by Whitman Chambers and C. Graham Baker; From a Novel by Virginia Perdue. Music by Adolph Deutsch. Photographed by Bert Glennon. Art Director, Hugh Reticker. Film Editor, Christian Nyby. Montages by James Leicester. Sound by Charles Lang. Dialogue Director, Don Brodie. Special Effects by Edwin DuPar, A.S.C. Set Decorations by Clarence Steensen. Wardrobe by Milo Anderson. Makeup Artist, Perc Westmore. Orchestral Arrangements by Murray Cutter. Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. Assistant Director William Kissel. RUNNING TIME: 78 Minutes.