The Accused [Blu-ray]

Director: William Dieterle William Dieterle

Overview

The Accused is a mystery melodrama with a predictable plot involving blackmail, attempted rape and murder. Loretta Young stars as Wilma Tuttle, a prim and proper college professor who unwittingly arouses the libido of student Bill Perry (Douglas Dick). When Perry tries to rape Wilma under cover of darkness, she beats him to death with a tire iron. Appalled by her own rash behavior, she tries to cover up her crime by making it seem as though Perry was killed while diving into the sea from a precipitous cliff. But as she follows the police investigation of Perry's death, Wilma realizes that she'll never be able to escape the prison of her own conscience -- especially when she falls in love with Warren Ford (Robert Cummings), the dead boy's guardian. Wendell Corey delivers the film's best performance as a quietly efficient homicide lieutenant who suspects that Wilma knows more than she's letting on. The Accused was adapted by Ketti Frings from the novel by June Truesdell.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/16/2021
UPC:	0738329256586
Original Release:	1948
Rating:	NR
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	6,602

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Loretta Young	Dr. Wilma Tuttle
Robert Cummings	Warren Ford
Wendell Corey	Lt. Ted Dorgan
Sam Jaffe	Dr. Romley
Douglas Dick	Bill Perry
Suzanne Dalbert	Susan Duval
George Spaulding	Dean Rhodes
Sara Allgood	Mrs. Conner
Mickey Knox	Jack Hunter
Francis Pierlot	Dr. Vinson
Ann Doran	Miss Rice
Billy Mauch	Harry Brice
Carole Mathews	Waitress
Eric Alden	Detective
John Bishop	Detective
Gladys Blake	Woman
Douglas Carter	Detective
Edward Clark	Professor
Frank Darien	Jerry
Al Ferguson	Judge
Joe Gray	Abe Comar (fighter)
John Indrisano	Referee
Nolan Leary	Coroner
Joe McTurk	Man
Ralph Montgomery	Newsman
Irene Ryan	Boxing fan
Sally Shepherd	Tea Room hostess
Henry Travers	Romley's assistant
Josephine Whittell	Dean's secretary

Technical Credits

William Dieterle	Director
Gordon Jennings	Special Effects
Hal B. Wallis	Producer

Editorial Reviews

A nifty little psychological thriller, The Accused may seem a bit dated to modern day viewers, but it still has enough punch to be worth watching. Although it sags slightly in the middle, the end sections are terrific, and even the slight mispacing in the middle is mild and hardly worth mentioning. William Dieterle's smooth and assured direction highlights the tension at every turn and also takes time to get into the psyches of the characters, especially the tortured murderess-heroine whose efforts to fight her overwhelming guilt are driving her crazy. The psychology employed will seem a tad quaint nowadays, and the equation of "career woman" with "dull and lonely" will likewise be off-putting, but Accused manages to be effective despite this. The cast helps enormously, with the always-gorgeous Loretta Young holding onto the audience's sympathy throughout; we all know Young isn't a murderess, not at heart, and so are willing to not only forgive her for the circumstances which drive her to the act but to ache for all of her suffering. Robert Cummings is good as her ultimate love interest, but even better is Wendell Corey, whose icy performance as the detective out to get his woman is quite memorable. In a smaller role, Sam Jaffe shines as a police scientist whose callous attitude toward humanity strikes home.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler