Whirlpool (1949)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(869 ratings)

In this compelling and unusual psychological melodrama Ann Sutton (Gene Tierney), a woman tormented by her secret kleptomania seeks help from a unscrupulous hypnotist David Korvo (Jose Ferrer). Although she is married to a successful psychiatrist (Richard Conte), and has no need to steal the items… More In this compelling and unusual psychological melodrama Ann Sutton (Gene Tierney), a woman tormented by her secret kleptomania seeks help from a unscrupulous hypnotist David Korvo (Jose Ferrer). Although she is married to a successful psychiatrist (Richard Conte), and has no need to steal the items which she could easily purchase, she finds herself powerless to control her urge. She is finally caught when she attempts to steal a brooch from a department store but she is saved by Korvo who persuades the store not to prosecute. Grateful and desperate for help, Ann allows Korvo to treat her. Korvo, taking advantage of Ann's vulnerability, hypnotizes her and sends her to the home of a former mistress whom he has stolen money from and subsequently murdered when she threatened to turn him in to the police. Ann is charged with the murder. Convinced of his wife's innocence, Richard must crack Korvo's seeming airtight alibi. Richard tricks Korvo into returning to the scene of the crime to find some evidence in the exciting conclusion. This unusual tale of murder and mental illness was written by a blacklisted Ben Hecht under the pseudonym "Lester Barstow" and bears a striking resemblance to another Hecht thriller, Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Otto Preminger
Written By: Ben Hecht, Andrew Solt
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1949 Wide
On DVD: Sep 6, 2005

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
There is no doubt that people will do strange things under hypnotic spell and that the techniques of hypnotism may be villainously employed. But you don't catch this fairly rational corner believing for one minute the hocuspocus that goes on.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Preminger's ambiguous relation to his characters and his sense of moral relativity have seldom been put to such haunting use.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a sporadically trashy, thoroughly absurd murder mystery.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Very wry, very Viennese satire of psychoanalysis as bourgeois fad
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Directed with a healthy feel for his twisted characters by Otto Preminger.
, Film4
A daft premise does little to detract from the enjoyment of this tense, well-made murder mystery.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's a fine example of the way Preminger, on occasion, managed to deflect routine melodrama into something more personal and profound.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Gripping throughout.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
[A] somewhat iffy categorization as noir...

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Tierney plays a woman who has kleptomania, and doesn't want her husband to find out. It's very thrilling, I liked it.
Michael G

Not so great. Relies heavily on psychology practices from over half a century ago which ultimately dates it.

Cast

            Gene Tierney as Ann Sutton

            Richard Conte as Dr. William Sutton

            José Ferrer as David Korvo

            Charles Bickford as Lt. Colton

            Barbara O'Neil as Theresa Randolph

            Eduard Franz as Martin Avery

            Constance Collier as Tina Cosgrove

            Fortunio Bonanova as Feruccio di Ravallo

            Ruth Lee as Miss Hall

            Bruce Hamilton as Lt. Jeffreys

            Alex Gerry as Dr. Peter Duval

            Larry Keating as Mr. Simms

            Mauritz Hugo as Hotel Clerk

            John Trebach as Freddie

            Myrtle Anderson as Agnes

            Lawrence Dobkin as Surgeon Wayne

            Nancy Valentine as Taffy Lou

            Clancy Cooper as Watchman

            Eddie Dunn as Watchman

            Randy Stuart as Miss Landau

            Helen Westcott as The Secretary

            Mack Williams as Whorton

            Howard Negley as Gordon

            Charles Flynn as Policeman

            Margaret Brayton as Policewoman

            Sue Carlton as Elevator Girl

            Robert Foulk as Andy

            Ted Jordan as Parking Attendant

            Ian MacDonald as Store Detective Hogan

            Phyllis Hill as Cocktail Party Guest

            Roger Moore as Fingerprint Man
See full cast