The Unfaithful (1947)

71% of users liked it
(30 ratings)

Though not readily apparent at first, The Unfaithful is a remake of the 1940 Bette Davis vehicle The Letter, which in turn was adapted from the play by W. Somerset Maugham. The locale of the Maugham original has been shifted from the jungles of Malaya to the cozy confines of a middle-sized American… More Though not readily apparent at first, The Unfaithful is a remake of the 1940 Bette Davis vehicle The Letter, which in turn was adapted from the play by W. Somerset Maugham. The locale of the Maugham original has been shifted from the jungles of Malaya to the cozy confines of a middle-sized American town. Ann Sheridan stars as Chris Hunter, who late one night kills a man who tries to attack her in her own home. At least that's her story: it turns out that the dead man had once had an affair with Chris while her serviceman husband Bob (Zachary Scott) was overseas. When it appears as though Chris might have intentionally murdered her assailant, faithful family friend and attorney Larry Hammaford (Lew Ayres) puts his career and reputation on the line by suppressing a valuable piece of evidence. Shorn of the class and race consciousness -- not to mention the eroticism and bitter irony -- of the Maugham original, The Unfaithful is able to move more logically to a happy (or at least satisfying) denouement. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Vincent Sherman
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 5, 1947 Wide
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A satisfactory glossy remake of Wyler's The Letter.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

A reworking of The Letter whose main strong points are Ann Sheridan in the lead and most of all Eve Arden as her wisecracking friend. Not up to the original but on it's on an enjoyable film.

Cast

            Ann Sheridan as Chris Hunter

            Lew Ayres as Larry Hannaford

            Zachary Scott as Bob Hunter

            Eve Arden as Paula

            Steven Geray as Martin Barrow

            John Hoyt as Detective-Lieutenant Reynolds

            Peggy Knudsen as Claire

            Marta Mitrovich as Mrs. Tanner

            Douglas Kennedy as Roger

            Claire Meade as Martha

            Frances Morris as Agnes

            Jane Harker as Joan

            Louis Austin as Middle-aged Woman

            Monte Blue as Businessman

            Paul Cavanagh as Ronald Kilkerry

            Dorothy Christy as Mrs. Freedley

            Julie Compton as Gemma Houston

            Donald Cook as Terry Houston

            Jerome Cowan as Prosecuting Attorney

            Jean De Briac as Maitre d'

            Ross Ford as Young Man

            George Hickman
            
            Betty Hill
            
            Charles Jordan as Attendant

            Paul Lukas as Colin Graham

            Charles Marsh
            
            Ray Montgomery as Secretary

            Jack Mower as Plainclothesman

            Richard Walsh
            
            Eve Whitney as Young Woman

            Joan Winfield as Girl

            Mary Field as Receptionist

            Bob Alden as Newsboy

            Maude Fealy as Old Maid

            Bob Lowell as Reporter

            John Elliott as Judge

            Paul Bradley as Mr. Tanner
See full cast