L'araignée

As the opening credits roll, newly wedded Ida Lupino (as Deborah Chandler) desperately tries to stop herself from crashing her car. In an attempted murder, the brakes have been disabled. We see the car drive off a North Carolina bridge and listen to Ms. Lupino's ghostly narration. But don't assume she's dead, or that the accident ends the story… After the prologue fails to uncover a dead body, we begin earlier. Inheriting a profitable mill upon the subsequently suspicious death of her father, Lupino marries the plant's general manager Stephen McNally (as Selden Clark). Apparently, they were a long-term couple; the wedding is the first of several implausible story developments. Lupino asks, "Why didn't I see it?" Don't know...

When they arrive at Mr. McNally's mountain cabin for a honeymoon, sexy Peggy Dow (as Patricia Monahan) is waiting. She reveals herself as McNally's "little business trips" lover and is understandably furious with Lupino's presence. After husband and lover smack each other around, Lupino decides she wants the marriage annulled, but McNally refuses. Lupino runs off, changes her name to "Ann Carter" and tries to hide from her homicidal husband. She meets handsome and helpful Howard Duff (as Keith Ramsey), but he isn't sure who is telling the truth. Beautiful black-and-white photography by William Daniels, effective direction from Michael Gordon and engaging performances make "Woman in Hiding" well worth following.

******* Woman in Hiding (12/27/49) Michael Gordon ~ Ida Lupino, Howard Duff, Stephen McNally, Peggy Dow

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Terrific blend of melodrama and noir, this film doesn't have any surprises but the sturdy direction by Michael Gordon and terrific performances by the always great Ida Lupino good Stephen McNally, good Howard Duff and the terrific Peggy Dow make this worth a watch.

The ending is a bit lazy and during a climactic fight scene, it's kind of a mistake in showing the stunt men's faces in closeup.

But, seeing Joe Besser 7 years before Stoogedom saying "stop crowding me" is worth a watch.

Fun fact: Lupino and Duff got off to a rocky start. She thought he was obnoxious. Obviously their time on screen made their relationship blossom since they got married in 1951.

WATCH IT

3.5/5.

Deborah Chandler (Ida Lupino) assures her mill owner father that she is not marrying dubious plant manager Selden Clark IV (Stephen McNally). Then her father dies in a plant accident. On the day of the funeral, Selden asks her to marry him. She eventually accepts, but suspicion soon arises when distraught Patricia Monahan (Peggy Dow) shows up on their honeymoon.

There are so many red flags. It is probably for the best that the audience doesn't always see him sweet-talk her to ignore those flags. I don't think that I would believe those scenes. I can always ignore what I don't see. This is a nice little melodramatic potboiler. It helps to have Ida Lupino selling the material.

It's hard to go wrong with the great Ida Lupino. This thriller's no exception. Deborah's husband (McNally) is ungallantly trying to kill her so he can get his hands on the mill her dead father left her. But she crashes her car into a river trying to get away, and now everyone except hubby thinks she's dead. Cleverly, he offers big bucks to anyone with info on her whereabouts. So well-meaning Ramsey (Duff) thinks he's doing her a favor by contacting the husband with the info. What's a frightened Debbie to do since hubby is one mean, relentless dude.

The movie may not be anything exceptional, but it's got its share of chills, especially the tangled mill scene. That sequence is very well directed for action, and I really like the unexpected wrinkle with Monahan (Dow). Then too, those boisterous conventioneer scenes add noisy color that also proves lucky for Debbie. The woman-in-danger part is one tailor made for the expert Lupino, and she makes it unusually convincing. McNally too, makes a persuasive menace, especially when he's beating the bushes while she cowers beneath. But I do think the script could have come up with a better angle for Debbie & Ramsey's first meet-up since that newsstand gig seems much too tame for a macho actor like Duff.

Anyway, it's a super-slick production from Universal that gets a real lift from Lupino who would go on to film an even better woman-in-danger film the following year, Beware, My Lovely (1952).

"Woman in Hiding" from 1950 stars Ida Lupino, Stephen McNally, and Howard Duff.

The film begins with a narration by Lupino, over a scene where police are trying to find her dead body after a car crash.

After her father (John Litel) dies from a fall, Deborah Chandler inherits the successful mill the family owns. She marries the general manager Selden (McNally). On her wedding night, they go to a cottage and find a girlfriend (Peggy Dow) of Selden's who has let herself in with a key.

Deborah then finds out that Selden killed her father. She flees from the cottage, only to find out that Selden, knowing she would do this, has cut the brakes of the car. Deborah jumps out before the car hits the water.

Selden isn't sure she's dead because no body was found; he wants to know for sure so he can inherit the mill free and clear. So he offers a $5000 reward for anyone who can find her. Deborah sees the ad while working in a restaurant and takes off. Passing a beauty salon, she hatches the idea to change her appearance.

Well, this is a not too great part of the story. She reappears with her hair maybe two shades lighter - she keeps calling herself a blonde, but she isn't - no sunglasses, hat, nothing. A man, Keith Ramsey (Duff) running the newspaper counter at the bus station remembers meeting her. When he sees her again, he takes off in pursuit.

Keith manages to earn Deborah's trust. His motives are a little ambiguous. He calls Selden and says he's not totally sure it's his wife, and he seems concerned about her. As Deborah attempts to keep running, things get rough.

Very exciting film with good performances. Lupino gives a strong performance as frightened and vulnerable woman; McNally is good at playing evil; and a young Howard Duff is handsome and charming. As Selden's girlfriend, Peggy Dow is terrific. The screen lost a real beauty as well as a fine actress when she married and retired.

The last ten minutes or so are nerve-wracking. Enjoy.