They Won’t Believe Me **** (1947, Robert Young, Susan Hayward, Jane Greer) – Classic Movie Review 7553

Director Irving Pichel’s excellent 1947 film noir thriller They Won’t Believe Me stars Robert Young, who is well cast way outside his usual friendly, sympathetic mould in a chilling role as Larry Ballentine, a spineless playboy stockbroker who apparently wants to get rid of wife Greta (Rita Johnson) to enjoy himself with secretary Verna Carlson (Susan Hayward) and aspiring writer Janice Bell (Jane Greer).

Ballentine takes the stand at his murder trial to protest his innocence and give his version of the events that led to the death of his girlfriend Verna in a car crash. But it is a tall story that he tells the jury, and he is pretty sure that They Won’t Believe Me.

This satisfying thriller is a tense, involving and atmospheric Forties film noir, with a taut screenplay by Jonathan Latimer, a sharp sting in the tail and attention-grabbing performances, especially from the little-known Johnson.

The story is by Gordon McDonell who provided Shadow of a Doubt for Alfred Hitchcock, whose regular producer was the same as this film’s – Joan Harrison.

They Won’t Believe Me also features Tom Powers, Don Beddoe, Frank Ferguson, George Tyne, Harry Harvey, Wilton Graff, Janet Shaw, Glen Knight, Anthony Caruso, George Sherwood and Byron Foulger.

The film noir queen Jane Greer is well remembered for Out of the Past, The Big Steal, Against All Odds, Station West, and They Won’t Believe Me.

Rita Johnson’s film career more or less ended in 1948 when a hair dryer fell on her head, causing brain damage, and she died on 31 October 1965, aged only 52.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7553

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