Toni DuBois (Nancy Coleman) is celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans with friends when she meets a handsome soldier named Dick Connolly (Phillip Reed). He’s on a blind date with another girl, but spots Toni from across the room and is instantly smitten.
Toni becomes convinced, however unlikely it may be, that she did fall in love with Dick during what little time they spent together. But what will become of the couple when Dick’s leave is cancelled and he doesn’t show up to receive Toni’s answer?
Her Sister’s Secret was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, based on the novel Dark Angel by Gina Kaus. This film was restored and preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive after the original nitrate negative was found.
*NOTE: The review section of this post contains a more in-depth discussion of the film’s premise. I don’t consider these to be spoilers, as they can be found in any other site’s plot synopsis of the film. (IMDb, TCM, and Wikipedia all include this information in their brief synopses!) I chose not to discuss these details in my plot synopsis for those who may be hearing of this film for the first time through my review, and want to go into it with a little more mystery. Read with caution below and on other sites if you’re the type who wants to know very little about the plot before watching a film!
The way that the film handles the topic of unwed pregnancy is unique among classic films that cover the same topic, which lends the film a sense of realism not present in heavily-moralistic tellings of similar tales. Toni’s decision, however complicated, is one that actually seems like a plausible solution in a world where unwed mothers were ostracized.
That being said, the film is just good — not great. The performances are decent but not particularly gripping. With such a heartbreaking premise, the film’s emotional impact isn’t very strong. Still, it’s worth a watch for a unique (and, for 1946, unexpected) take on a familiar topic. The score: 3/5
This seems like a mix of Penny Serenade, An Affair to Remember, and one of my romance favorites, The Clock. And yes, as you’re well aware, two of these happen to be Cary Grant films.
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It did remind me a bit of ‘The Clock,’ especially in those early scenes when Toni and Dick first meet.
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