They Won't Believe Me (1947)
-
81% of users liked it
(71 ratings)
Irving Pichel's They Won't Believe Me is the flashback unfolding of Larry Ballentine's (Robert Young) witness-stand testimony in his trial for the murder of girlfriend Verna Carlson (Susan Hayward). Larry is the first to admit he's a parasitic heel, cheating on his rich wife Gretta… More Irving Pichel's They Won't Believe Me is the flashback unfolding of Larry Ballentine's (Robert Young) witness-stand testimony in his trial for the murder of girlfriend Verna Carlson (Susan Hayward). Larry is the first to admit he's a parasitic heel, cheating on his rich wife Gretta (Rita Johnson) first with magazine writer Janice Bell (Jane Greer) and then with Verna. Though aware of Larry's affairs, Gretta cannot manage to leave him; rather, she uses her money to keep him in tow. She foils his attempt to run off with Janice by buying him a partnership in a brokerage firm. When she discovers his plan to flee with Verna, she sells her interest, leaving Larry unemployed and penniless. The lovers run off nonetheless, but Verna is killed when a truck crashes into their car. When the authorities assume the charred victim is his wife, Larry gets a sinister idea. He returns home to kill Gretta, but she is already dead, so all he has to do is hide the body. Unfortunately for him, the police come looking for the missing Verna, who they suspect was blackmailing him. They find Gretta's unrecognizable corpse, think it's Verna's, and arrest Larry. The flashback structure of this suspenseful film noir effectively creates a foreboding tension that mounts to a powerful final scene. ~ Steve Press, Rovi
- Directed By
- Irving Pichel
- Written By
- Jonathan Latimer
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1947 Wide
- Studio
- RKO Pictures
Critic Reviews
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An outstanding film noir melodrama.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Robert Young
as Larry Ballentine
-
Susan Hayward
as Verna Carlson
-
Rita Johnson
as Gretta Ballentine
-
Tom Powers
as Trenton
-
George Tyne
as Lieutenant Carr
-
Frank Ferguson
as Cahill
-
Jean Andren
as Maid
-
Polly Bailey
as Untidy Woman
-
Don Beddoe
as Thomason
-
Nina Borget
as Mrs. Roberts
-
Lovyss Bradley
as Miss Jordan
-
Lillian Bronson
as Mrs. Hines
-
Anthony Caruso
as Tough Patient
-
Ellen Corby
as Screaming Woman
-
Anne Cornwall
as Screaming Woman
-
Dot Farley
as Emma
-
Charles Flynn
as Masseur
-
Byron Foulger
as Mortician
-
Lee Frederick
as Detective
-
Jack Gargan
as Bartender
-
William Gillespie
as Waiter
-
Sol (Saul) Gorss
as Gus
-
Wilton Graff
as Patrick Gold
-
Fred Graham
as Deputy Sheriff
-
Jane Greer
as Janice Bell
-
Harry Harvey
as Judge Fletcher
-
Herbert Heywood
as Sheriff
-
Carl Kent
as Chauffeur
-
Perc Launders
as Police Stenographer
-
Paul Maxey
as Mr. Bowman
-
Matt McHugh
as Tiny Old Man
-
Netta Packer
as Spinster
-
Milton Parsons
as Court Clerk
-
Lee Phelps
as Bailiff
-
Jack Rice
as Tour Conductor
-
Hector V. Sarno
as Nick
-
Janet Shaw
as Susan Haines
-
George Sherwood
as Highway Cop
-
Harry Strang
as Ryan
-
Irene Tedrow
as 1st Woman
-
Bob Thom
as Hotel Clerk
-
Martin Wilkins
as Sailor
-
Bud Wolfe
as Driver
-
Robert Thom
as Hotel Clerk
-
Frank Pharr
as Patrick Collins
-
George Morrell
as Rancher
-
Harry Gillespie
as Waiter
-
Ivan Browning
as Bartender
-
Helen Dickson
as Woman
-
Bert LeBaron
as Joe Pots
-
Robert Peyton
as Detective
-
Bob Pepper
as Officer Guarding Larry
-
Elena Warren
as Mrs. Bowman
-
Ira Buck Woods
as Waiter