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The Madonna's Secret (1946)

** (out of 4)

Artist James Corbin (Francis Lederer) has his latest model murdered and it strikes one man (Edward Ashley) strange that a previous model died the same way. The second victim's sister (Ann Rutherford) decides to go undercover as a model to try and prove that the artist is the murderer. THE MADONNA'S SECRET features some good performances and nice cinematography but that's about it as the story itself is rather tiresome and director Wilhelm Thiele just doesn't add too much suspense to the material. In fact, I'd say that the entire film has a very weak energy level that really keeps the viewer from getting too caught up in the material. The screenplay itself really doesn't have too much going for it as there are way too many long dialogue sequences that just go no where and end up hurting the film more than helping. As I said, the performances are actually pretty good and they help keep the film moving. Lederer was very believable as the troubled artist and I really liked how the actor could make you not trust him one second but then change your mind the next. Ashley makes for an entertaining good guy and Rutherford gets to shine in a role away from Andy Hardy. John Litel is good as the main cop on the case and Leona Roberts is also good as the artist's mother. I will admit that the final twist in the story is a good one and something that I didn't see coming.

Brisk suspense movie that holds the attention - even if the baddie does seem rather obvious from early on in the proceedings.

Directors today are a lot more sophisticated than they were when 'talkies' became a thing... and that's not always a good thing. Often the director's fingerprints are all over a good story and they just serve to dilute the narrative, not make it better.

So; for old folk like me, it's a nice change to see scenes blend simply together, no silly timeline confusion and best of all - every camera is firmly attached to a tripod!

The Madonna's Secret follows the life of a tortured artist as he faces accusations of multiple murders. His beautiful models seem to meet with unfortunate endings and the cops all think they point to the painter.

Perhaps they do, as he hears voices, has bad dreams and forgets chunks of his life. Perhaps they don't as there are circumstances that point to other culprits... Most of you won't have to wait till the end to find out as the more perceptive will see the guilty party telegraphed before you, long before the players do!

With that said, it's still a good fun ride buoyed by a really good cast of actors even in the minor roles. Will Wright is a treat doing what he does best... crusty old geezer down by the river! (You'll recognize the face as he was in every movie made in the 40s and every TV show made in the 50s!) And there are endless other similar cameos to put names to in this yarn.

Worth a watch.. and right now it's free on YouTube!

Not sure if this strictly a noir film as it runs as a mystery as well. Some evidences of film noir would be the dramatic cinematography, a character that is somewhat of a Femme Fatale, a feeling of hopelessness in the current status quo, and of course, the criminal element that pervades most scenes. Against it being noir would be that this film is not about the average man, but a well to do artist. Also, the fate angle doesn't seem quite pronounced here. The acting is great throughout with special kudos for Francis Lederer and his creepy accent. The cinematography is uniformly superb. Of course, any film shot by John Alton is special. This is a rare film and currently only shown at film festivals. Hopefully it will show up on DVD someday.

"The Madonna's Secret" is a noir starring Frances Lederer, Gail Patrick, Ann Rutherford, Linda Stirling, Leona Roberts, and John Litel.

Frances Lederer plays tortured artist James Corbin, who moved to America after being accused of the murder of one of his models. He was acquitted, but found it best to start over. He works with a model named Helen North, but he doesn't paint her face. Her face is that of his dead love, Madeline.

Helen, under pressure from a boyfriend, decides to quit working for Corbin. Part of the reason is that she is falling for him, and it's not going anywhere. Five minutes after she quits, Corbin declares his love for her and wants her as part of his life.

Well, that doesn't last long. Helen is soon murdered in the same fashion as Madeline. A newpaper publisher who recognized Madeline's portraits knows who Corbin is and exposes him to the police. He's arrested for Helen's murder, but they have to release him because he has an alibi.

The police send in Helen's sister Linda (Rutherford) to model for him and to get any information that she can. Along comes a wealthy woman, Ella Randolph, who wants to buy the Madonna's Secret, one of Corbin's portraits of Madeline. She flirts outrageously with him and soon, she sees herself as a competitor for Linda.

Corbin is a chick magnet, and Linda has fallen for him as well. She is devastated when Ella says she and Corbin are going to be married (which isn't true). Then Ella winds up dead. Corbin is slapped in jail.

So what gives here? This is an atmospheric film with a good performance by the handsome Lederer, who really keeps you guessing, as does the script.

It's a good mystery, although I can't see all these women, particularly a victim's sister, falling for this guy. Francis Lederer is one thing - the character is another!

By the way, Lederer founded a drama school and was still teaching the week of his death at age 101. A remarkable man.

Francis Lederer is a painter haunted by his past, using Linda Stirling as his model, but painting the face of his dead model in Europe. He was a suspect in her murder by drowning, but nothing concrete was proven, and so he went free and came to America.

Now he has fallen in love with Miss Stirling and now she too is dead of drowning. Police detective John Litel hounds him, but he has an alibi, and suggests he has an enemy. The cops have to let him go, but they play a spy in his home. Is it Miss Stirling's sister, an actress, or is it rich Gal Patrick, who wishes to buy Lederer's last painting because of the notoriety, or is it Ann Rutherford, who says she has been sent by the modeling agency? Lederer hires her, and while she is changing, he looks in her hand bag and discovers a gun.

It's in interesting set-up for a film noir, and DP John Alton shoots strong, sharp shadows of prison bars. William Thiele directs from a script he co-wrote. It's a good cast, and worth a look, despite a slightly botched ending.