O Segredo

It's an honest well to do family, where the father is a retired lawyer and the only son is studying law with great future prospects. One night however he accidentally happens to cause the death of his best friend in a drunken brawl which totally shatters his self respect. He confides in his father who advises him to immediately make a clean breast of it to the police, but the mother has second thoughts and advises him to wait and sleep on it. Matters get more complicated when a married innocent man without children gets charged with the homicide, and he begs the retired lawyer to defend him at court. The father finds it a clear case for acqittal and accepts the case, but during the trial the charged innocent who has a heart condition has a heartstroke and dies. The case is dismissed, but the perpetrator feels very bad about it and is getting nervous. The film is remarkable for its excellent acting, especially by the father (Lee J. Cobb) playing his part with admirable restraint, and by the son (John Derek) adding another impersonation of a very sensitive and nervous young man, and by his sensible girl (Jody Lawrance) who adds a great deal of cold good sense to the film. It's a great family drama posing many questions of moral resposibility.

A small conflicted family drama about a young man (John Derek), son of a wealthy and retired lawyer (Lee J. Cobb), trying to find ways to escape justice after accidentally killing his best friend during an argument. His whole family end up knowing about his secret and they'll find ways to either help him out in one or the other - the father advises the son to surrender himself because he might get a fair trial with the friendly prosecutor, of whom he's applying for a working position; but the mother is more desperate and feels that since no one found out about him maybe they can hide the truth from everyone. But the real challenge comes to the man himself, tormented each step of the way with his heavy conscience. Is there ever a way out?

"The Family Secret" is one of those typical crime drama where the society's morals and values are put into questioning and it's all thrown back at us in those kind of scenarios where you can imagine yourself being put to the test in finding solutions or alternatives in dealing with everything or facing the consequences. Nothing wrong with this concept since it has resulted (and still do) many great films over the decades but it all depends on a number of factors such as the story and elements presented - and how it all ties everything together - and the casting as well. Obvious there's some bumps along the way and fullfilment and enjoyment on it can affect some viewers.

Mr. Cobb is an honorable actor that always bring quality and presence with his roles wheter being in classic masterpieces such as "On the Waterfront" or "12 Angry Men", or in lesser known films such as this one, "The Man in the Grey Flannel" or "The Man Who Cheated Himself". As the father, he carries a powerful emotional weight while trying to solve his son's problems yet always advising him that he should turn himself to authorities, and when a third party is accused of the murder and her wife wants to hire Cobb as the lawyer things get desperate for everybody involved.

Pity that except Cobb and other veterans, the youngers in the movie make it a very distracting experience to the point it can almost make it unberable at parts. Major problem comes with John Derek, since there's no appeal to him, neither to the character who keeps finding romance on two ways which is confusing, almost pointless at parts. He's somewhat engaged with a tedious rich girl but at the same time he keeps charming his own secretary at work - none of them really want them, there's always some rebuttal of theirs on him yet he keeps chasing both of them until some enlightment comes to his head, and all that while the investigation and a possible murder trial pending that he also keeps obsessing. Didn't care for the girls acting either, too bland.

The heart of the matter which is the whole case and the ethics within the household is what makes "The Family Secret" a positively enjoyable and thrilling experience where you keep on the edge to find out how everything's gonna get solved. It's a small film with some big questioning, and it's all up to us in the audience to be the judge of their actions, the family mostly. Maybe some conclusions and some actions are wronged because of the egotist and spoiled manners of the young man.

A real pity that the actual crime isn't shown on the opening scene neither the friend is given a face (audiences like that, to form a bond between a character or even form an emotional bond with the victim) and most of that's said as motivation (though an accident) gives the impression that a lot more was going between those two guys. It's never mentioned and it makes audiences make some theories about it - quite valid.

Go with little expectations, except that Mr. Cobb surely delivers again a stellar performance that makes everything the more enjoyable as possible. 7/10.

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!

David Clark is in trouble. He had killed his best friend in self-defense. He confesses to his lawyer father Howard Clark (Lee J. Cobb). They are set to come clean to the D. A. but another man gets arrested for murder. It's the dead man's bookie and Howard gets the job to defend him.

I like the starting premise but I don't like David. It's a complicated role and the actor doesn't seem to be up to the task. He has to play both innocent and guilt. Mostly, he's playing snarky and cold which leaves me a bit cold. He should be running around and changing the evidence. The plot needs twists and turns. This could have centered around Lee J. Cobb instead. He's the veteran actor and the more capable one. I would also get rid of the narration. When done well, this premise has generated plenty of good tense shows. There is so much potential but I don't see it being maximized. The final turn is more a morality play than a surprise twist. The opening premise is full noir but the movie turns into a bland 50's morality lesson.

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.