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

‘Shadow Of A Woman’ Is Fine Suspense Drama (Prepared Review) A rare feeling of suspense and mystery characterizes Warner Bros.’ “Shadow Of A Woman” which opened at the Strand Theatre last night with a first rate cast headed by co-stars Helmut Dantine and Andrea King. One seldom finds such credible melodrama as director J oseph Santley has fashioned from Whitman Chambers’ and C. Graham Baker’s expertly constructed screenplay. Helmut Dantine is a particularly excellent choice for his role in the film, cutting both a dashing and sinister picture as Dr. Eric Ryder. His marriage to Brook (Andrea King) after a five-day courtship forebodes evil when he is almost crushed by a dislodged boulder. Brook, who knows little or nothing of her husband except that he’s a doctor who places unusual stock in the curative powers of diet, has a strong feeling that the incident was not an accident. Her convictions are strengthened when a second attempt is made on Dr. Ryder’s life. Still No. 646-529 An ominous "Shadow Of A Woman" threatens the romance of Helmut Dantine and Andrea King (above), who co-star in Warner Bros.' suspense drama by that name, now playing at the Strand. MAT 2D When David MacKellar (William Prince) and Johnnie (Don McGuire), attorney and photographer respectively, attempt to take a picture of Eric and Brook, the doctor reveals to his bride that he has been married before to Louise (Peggy Knudsen) and that he has a five-year-old son, Philip (Larry Geiger). Brook learns, further, that Eric lives with his sour sister, Emma (Lisa Golm) and _ his crippled nephew, Carl (John Alvin), in a dismal, thoroughly depressing San Francisco home. Such are but a few of the distressing situations which confront the young bride and foreshadow the impending fate of an extremely well defined group of characters. To tell more would be to reveal unfairly a particularly artful plot and an unusually suspenseful climax. The cast was apparently selected with considerable forethought and care for they all acquit themseles nobly. Helmut Dantine, always good, does the finest job of his consistently notable career. As for Andrea King, she’s beautiful and exceptionally talented. Watch her! Others who merit special praise are Peggy Knudsen, whose beauty matches her acting ability, and William Prince, who contributes another of his always excellent characterizations. Adolph Deutsch’s music creates just the right mood and atmosphere. “Shadow Of A Woman,” produced by William Jacobs, is the kind of filmfare we’ve been waiting for. Don’t miss it! Warner Bros.’ New Suspense Thriller At Strand Tonight (Opening Day Reader) “Shadow Of A Woman,” Warner Bros.’ new drama of suspense, produced by William Jacobs and directed by Joseph Santley, opens tonight at the Strand Theatre with a _topnotch cast headed by co-stars Helmut Dantine and Andrea King and featuring Don McGuire, Dick Erdman, John A\lvin and William Prince. The screenplay, by Whitman Chambers and C. Graham Baker was based on Virginia Perdue’s novel, “He Fell Down Dead,” and is concerned with a young girl who marries an attractive doctor after a whirlwind courtship only to learn that he is a quack physician and a dangerous husband. Adolph Deutsch composed the film’s original music. Love And Terror Share Spotlight On Strand Screen (Current Theatre Story) Those past masters of the art of producing really first-rate screen melodrama are at it again. Which is just another way of calling attention to Warner Bros.’ newest effort in that direction, “Shadow Of A Woman,” the Strand Theatre’s current presentation that co-stars Helmut Dantine and Andrea King and features, in other impertant roles, Don McGuire, Dick Erdman, John Alvin and William Prince. When you remember it was Warners who produced such thrillers as “The Maltese Falcon,” “The Mask Of Dimitrios” and, more recently, “Three Strangers,” then it’s not asking too much to expect every Warner sponsored melodrama to contain the same amount of suspense, excitement and _ sustained tension that is their special cachet. All three qualities are present in abundance in “Shadow Of A Woman.” The Whitman ChambersC. Graham Baker screenplay from a novel by Virginia Perdue relates the suspenseful adventures which befall Brook (Andrea King) when she marries Eric Ryder (Helmut Dantine) after a five-day whirlwind courtship, knowing nothing more about her husband than that he claims to be a doctor and further claims to be madly in love with her. How she discovers, in a succession of dismaying experiences, that Eric’s ex-wife Louise (Peggy Knudsen) is embroiled in a court fight to retain possession of their five-year-old youngster (Larry Geiger); that Eric’s sour-visaged sister (Lisa Golm) and crippled nephew (John Alvin) hate Eric enough to murder him; and, worst of all, that Eric himself is only a quack physician not above the suspicion of murder himself, makes for mounting tension, which is guaranteed to dismiss every other thought or worry from your head until the film’s tremendously thrilling and _ thoroughly surprising climax has been disclosed. Produced for Warners by William Jacobs, “Shadow Of A Woman” was directed by Joseph Santley. The film’s original music was contributed by Adolph Deutsch. Still No. AK 204 ANDREA KING shares stellar billing with Helmut Dantine in Warner Bros.' newest suspense thriller, "Shadow Of A Woman," coming to the Strand on Friday. MAT IH In New Warner Thriller Still No. 626-524 Helmut Dantine, Andrea King and William Prince are involved in mayhem and sudden death in Warner Bros.’ new hit drama of suspense, "Shadow Of A Woman," at the Strand. MAT 2A ‘Shadow Of A Woman’ Opens At Strand Friday (Advance Theatre Story) Warner Bros.’ suspenseful new melodraina, “Shadow Of A Woman,” starring Helmut Dantine and Andrea King, comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday. Directed by Joseph Santley, the Whitman ChambersC. Graham Baker screenplay tells the exciting and relentless story of Dr. Eric Ryder, portrayed by Helmut Dantine, who manifests an insatiable lust for money. The doctor, who places considerable emphasis on the importance of diet, on which fact the film’s exciting and suspenseful climax hinges, marries Brook, played by Andrea King, after a _ whirlwind, five-day courtship. When several attempts are made on her husband’s life, Brook becomes intensely suspicious of Eric’s past. Warner Bros.’ New Murder Melodrama At Strand Friday (Advance Reader) Helmut Dantine and Andrea King are teamed again as costars of Warners’ “Shadow Of A Woman,” suspenseful film drama of murder and mystery opening Friday at the Strand Theatre. Others featured in an excellent supporting cast are: Don McGuire, Dick Erdman, John Alvin and William Prince. Underscoring the old threat about marrying in haste and repenting at leisure, the film relates the distressing events which follow the whirlwind courtship and hastily arrived at marriage of a young and beautiful girl and a handsome but extremely dangerous doctor. When his life has twice been threatened, the bride instigates an investigation of her own with remarkably startling results. Produced by William Jacobs, “Shadow Of A Woman” was directed by Joseph Santley. The screenplay was written by Whitman Chambers and C. Graham Baker. Adolph Deutsch contributed the film’s original music. A related chain of incidents confirms her suspicions. William Prince and Don McGuire are featured in the film as a lawyer and photographer, respectively, who are incidental to Eric’s revelation to Brook that he has been married before. Mrs. Louise Ryder (Peggy Knudsen) bore him a son named Philip (Larry Geiger), who is to inherit one million dollars and over whom Louise and Eric have wrangled bitterly. John Alvin and Dick Erdman are also featured prominently in an excellent supporting cast. “Shadow Of A Woman,” adapted from Virginia Perdue’s novel, was produced by William Jacobs. The picture’s original music was composed by Adolph Deutsch. Actress Resembles Star, Wins Own Fame Andrea King was originally signed by Warner Bros. because she resembled Ida Lupino closely enough to be cast in a picture as her sister. When a sudden change in plans occurred and Ida Lupino went into another picture instead, Andrea, currently co-starring with Helmut Dantine in “Shadow Of A Woman,” Warners’ new suspense drama at the Strand, had _ sufficiently impressed studio authorities with her right to remain, regardless of whom she looked like. Which once again proves that a pretty face can be an **Open Sesame” — in Hollywood. The star’s next film is Warners’ soon-to-be-released ‘*The Man I Love.” in which she stars with Ida Lupino, Robert Alda and Bruce Bennett.