They Won't Believe Me (1947)

Powerful

Just what I expected

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Unusual noir thriller. The protagonist, Robert Young, is neither a criminal type or a lawman, but a seemingly ordinary guy who gets his deck reshuffled too many times. As others have pointed out, he plays a role similar to Fred McMurray's in Double Idemnity. But Young's Larry doesn't descend gradually into depravity like McMurray's character, he's made a lifestyle out of it.He's unfaithful, but lets his wife (Rita Johnson's Greta) lure him away from two affairs with goodies (jobs, houses) "I was private property" he admits. We get the usual split between angelic women (Jane Greer's Janice) and devilish manipulators such as Greta. She seems to enjoy backing him into emotional corners with psychological blackmail. It's a symbiotic relationship centered on isolation; their house in the desert is not only remote, she makes sure it doesn't even have a phone.Susan Hayward's Verna starts out as a manipulator, a self-described "golddigger", and evolves into a sincere lover. That's unexpected, but, since we're in abysmal noir territory, she dies soon after this revelation. In a very obvious way it's Larry who's the golddigger, living off his wife while courting Janice, then Verna, abandoning each, in turn, as it suits him.His plot to cover the planned murder of Greta by letting the authorities assume that it was her who died in the accident, and not Verna, works, at least for a while. Among the heavy doses of irony in the movie is his discovery that Greta actually is dead. Larry can't win. If he reveals that it was Verna who died in their auto accident, he compromises himself with Greta. But playing it as he does forces Greta's hand anyway. Probably, on discovering his incriminating 'good-bye' note, Greta retreats to the remote pool to console herself. But she's so distraught that she loses control of the horse and plunges to her death.It sure looked like it happened that way. At worst Greta became suicidal, and deliberately fell. I can't understand why the police would assume that Larry killed the woman. I said 'the woman' because they think it's Verna. Ok, but since they know who Verna is, why don't they know what she looks like? The corpse isn't disfigured like the one in the burnt car. And how coukd Larry throw the horse into the gorge as well as the rider? It's definitely suspicious that he would mislead the cops about Verna, but there's simply no evidence for him murdering anyone. Well, that's partly 'squared' by his acquittal. But he feels trapped, fears conviction, and, with further noir irony, gets himself killed. I was half expecting Verna to show up out of nowhere. I thought the fact that the corpse was found on the driver's side of the wrecked car meant that it was a 'stowaway' or something, and that maybe Verna survived.No one, Janice excepted, is without blame in They Won't Believe Me. She's the only one who really knows what she's about, and adroitly steers clear of all the mayhem. The flashback device is another echo from Double Indemnity. It works fairly well here too. What's different in They Won't Believe Me is the lack of iconic noir settings; there's really no seedy clubs, streets, and back alleys. The drama here is psychological. The three violent scenes: the car wreck, the horseback-riding accident (?), and the attempted suicide and subsequent death in the courtroom, have greater impact because they're all surprises.Even with some uneven plot bits, They Won't Believe Me is a very watchable movie, with strong performances all around, nice pacing, and escalating tension.

Outstanding film noir melodrama with Robert Young cast against type as a philanderer on trial for murder. Through flashbacks, he tells the jury about how he's a selfish womanizer who cheated on his rich wife (Rita Johnson) with her friend (Jane Greer) and a co-worker (Susan Hayward) but denies he's a murderer.Robert Young has one of his best film roles here, as does Rita Johnson. Noir goddess Jane Greer is fine in a 'good girl' role. Susan Hayward is dynamite as a libidinous woman who falls for Young in spite of herself. The script is smart and full of hard-boiled lines. The story takes many twists and turns but it always manages to feel believable, even when it's anything but. The memorable final scene is one of the best from any film noir. Nice cinematography from Harry J. Wild and excellent direction from the often underrated Irving Pichel. Tense, suspenseful movie that will please most noir fans. Definitely recommended.

I had long ignored this title, as I noted Robert Young's name as leading man, and I certainly do not associate Young with film noir. Young was so much typecast as a pleasant, genteel man, that it is hard to shake the Jim Anderson/Marcus Welby goodness of Young's presence.But much like Fred MacMurray's wonderful portrayal of 'Walter Neff' in 'Double indemnity', Young as 'Lawrence Ballantine' is a revelation in 'They Won't Believe Me'. Many have dismissed Young's performance here, saying that it was an obvious example of miscasting.I disagree....Young's performance is a wonderful example of a sociopath hidden behind calm, smiling eyes. Young's performance is a fine example of 'less is more' when it comes to acting -- and I don't mean this in any derogatory tone.Jane Greer (the fabulous Jane Greer) and Susan Hayward are standouts. I've never seen Hayward look so sexy and Greer so elegant. It's interesting to see these strong women humiliate the weak-willed Young in their scenes.The screenplay is intelligent; quite knowing of human relationships. This film may not be as 'sensational' as 'Double Indemnity'. but I feel it as every bit as well filmed and acted.It's a shame that both MacMurray and Young opted for the easy life of television. Then again, they were veteran actors by this time, and they had certainly earned the comfortable (and profitable) life of TV stardom.Unless my memory fails me, I do recall one of the first directors to cast Robert Young as the 'villain'. None other than Alfred Hitchcock, in "Secret Agent' (1936). At one point, in a comic visual bit, Robert Young actually draws a cartoon 'villain' mustache on his own picture in this film.It was a long way from Jim Anderson of 'Father Knows Best'.The ending of 'They Won't Believe Me' is Ironic Cliché. What Film Noir is all about.

Still can't believe that I'm giving a Susan Hayward film **1/2 but I am.In 2012 this film could never be made. Ever hear of DNA?This is a different role for Robert Young and he wasn't quite up to it. He lacked the suave, debonair facade that the role required.If Greta really wanted to keep her marriage intact, why would she invite the aunt to join them in the house? The woman was suspicious of Young from the onset and he obviously couldn't stand her.The ending is an example of collective guilt. Jane Greer comes across as an understanding, kindly woman; but after all, she did have an affair with Young. Susan Hayward's part is genuine for her. She is conniving and calculated. Rita Johnson is the wife who seems to be understanding that her husband philanders. With the money she had, she didn't have to be like that.