The Whole Truth (1958)

Brilliant and touching

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Smoothly directed by John Guillermin (who, 20 years later, would helm my favorite Agatha Christie film adaptation, "Death On The Nile") and intelligently acted by a capable cast (including sultry Italian star Gianna Maria Canale), "The Whole Truth" is a slick, well-made mystery movie. It's not, however, a whodunit, like its poster claims; we learn who the killer is early on. It's more of a cat-and-mouse game between the killer and the hero. Nevertheless, there are quite a few surprising plot developments. Also of note is the lively, jazzy music score by Johnny Dankworth and Lambert Williamson. Not a great film, but one that deserves to be better known. **1/2 out of 4.

A film producer accused of murdering the leading lady of his latest project must acquit himself and save his marriage. Stewart Granger was more than apt at the part of the producer and his relationship with Donna Reed (who plays the part of his wife) is full of fairly intelligent dialogue. George Sanders' character as the actual killer of the leading lady, who had totally humiliated him with her numerous affairs, makes convincing sense as the plot unfolds of an older man confronted with a marriage that's only evidence of matrimony was the worthless piece of paper the marriage certificate was written on. The ending is a bit of a stretch, but there are a lot of nice interior shots of the jet set enjoying a swanky party on the French Riviera where the story takes place.

I rated this film 5/10 as it was no more than par for the course.The minute George Sanders appeared, I knew he was going to play another suave sophisticated villain as he has played in so many other films.Donna Reed must have been disappointed with her rather anodyne part and Stewart Granger does his best with the dialogue in the mediocre screenplay.As far as I was concerned, the star of the film was the 1958 white Jaguar XK3 sports car.A few location shots around the south of France were seen but the rest was obviously shot in a film studio.The most farcical shot was a so called "car chase" that seemed to be wholly and claustrophobically shot on the film set where the cars seemed to be going round in circles around the artificial buildings!

Stewart Granger plays a film producer making a film in the south of France. Causing him no end of trouble on his production is the film's female star, Gianna Maria Canale. Canale is loud, obnoxious and a pain in everyone's ass. She is also having a fling with Stewart while his wife, Donna Reed was off in England. Granger pleads with Canale to behave herself and get the film finished. She responds with a bit of blackmail, continue the affair or she will tell Granger's wife. What is he to do? That night while Granger is having a party, George Sanders puts in an appearance. He introduces himself as a police inspector and informs Granger that Canale has been found murdered. Does Granger know anything about it? "No, No not a thing!" Sanders leaves and Granger jumps in his car and roars off to make sure that he left nothing at their love-nest. He returns to the party and who should appear but Canale, alive and well. What the hell is going on? It seems that Canale is Sanders wife, and now Sanders plans a little payback. Of course Canale does get murdered and Granger is the number one suspect. There are plenty of red herrings, twists and turns and the like in this one. Great back and forth between Sanders and Granger. Good time-waster.(b/w)