The Family Secret

When the film begins, David Clark (John Derek) drives home. Apparently, he killed his friend and instead of going to the police, he sneaks home and acts as if nothing had happened. Eventually, he tells his father (Lee J. Cobb) what happened...how it was an accident and how he was attacked first...and his father and mother agree to keep this a secret. Soon you learn that the father is an attorney...and that a man was just arrested for the killing! Instead of telling the truth, the parents continue to enable David to be a stinking weasel...and through the course of the film David shows himself to be a characterless jerk. What's next? Will he do the right thing? Watch the film to find out for yourself.

I really liked this film because it was so unusual and much more realistic than most movies of the day. In addition to this nice script, the acting is also very good and it's well worth seeing....especially because it offers some neat twists along the way.

Twenty five year old john derek. When david may be in serious legal trouble, his parents (lee cobb and erin obrien moore) can't agree on what to do. Dad is an attorney, and certainly knows the law inside and out. To make matters worse, it involves their best friends. Small role for familiar face whit bissell. Some heavy issues in this suspense drama.... having the courage to do the right thing, as well as damaged family communication. Right versus wrong tackled in the 1950s in films. It's very well done, although they could have left out the over the top drunk scene where david acts like a total jerk. Cobb was nominated for two films in the 1950s, and appeared in the HUAC congressional hearings. Directed by henry levin. Directed a couple biggies, but looks like he never got the oscar. Check out john derek's story on wikipedia; he sure covered a lot of ground.

John Derek was a terrible actor. The rest of the cast isn't any better and neither is the writing.

A spoiled young man kills his friend In the heat of anger. The family decides to say nothing and see how it plays out. The killer's mother is especially cold, "After a while we will forget all about this!" Never mind that the slain boy's mother is her best friend. An innocent man is accused and tried and drops dead from a heart attack.

Even the resolution at the end is boring. The movie just STUNK!

Taut Indie Produced by Bogart's Short-Lived "Santana-Studio".

An Intimate Family Conflict Brought On by John Derrick (at 25 playing young) and his Revelation to HIs Family of a "Self-Defense" Killing (a friend) and Subsequent Fleeing the Scene.

The Drama Heats Up When Lee J. Cobb (in a very unusual laid-back mode), the Father, and an Attorney, Advises His Son to Turn Him-Self In, while the Mother (Erin Moore) Thinks He Should Lay-Low and Forget it, even though the Victim is Her Best Friend's Son.

A Fever-Pitch is Reached when an Innocent Man (Whit Bissell) is Arrested and Put on Trial for the Crime.

Then There's a Big Twist.

A Brooding, Simmering Story that is Familiar but Given Enough Gravitas from the Players and some Surprises.

John Derrick Plays the "Playboy" Girl-Magnet with Ease, and Reaches Deep for some Angst, Regret, Conflict, and His "Better Angels".

Overall, Somewhat Compelling "Little" Movie with "Big" Life-Lessons on its Mind.

Directed by the Prolific but Inconsistent Henry Levin.

It Succeeds with some Melodramatic Ways that Makes it a Borderline Film-Noir and...

Worth a Watch.

If you really want to expose a bad actor's badness then put him or her up against a great actor. Like Ava Gardner opposite Bogie in "Contessa". Or Natalie Trundy juxtaposed with Dean Stockwell in "Careless Years". Or John Derek, in this snorer, next to Juror #3.