They Won't Believe Me
They Won't Believe Me is a 1947 drama film starring Susan Hayward. The black-and-white film noir was directed by Irving Pichel. The film was produced by Alfred Hitchcock's longtime assistant and collaborator, Joan Harrison. Template:Spoiler The film tells the story of a man's involvement with a number of woman leads to an ironic murder charge. The film is told in flashback. As the film begins the accused man, Larry Ballentine (Young) stands trial for the killing of his girlfriend. He tells his story, which includes marrying for money and a number or relationships with other women which eventually leads to death and cover ups. When Ballentine finishes telling the story the jury leaves to deliberate. They return but before they are able to give the "not guilty" verdict, Ballentine jumps from a courtroom window to his death.
A 2003 review of the film by Dennis Schwartz called the film "An outstanding film noir melodrama whose adultery tale is much in the same nature as a Hitchcock mystery or James M. Cain's gritty Double Indemnity." Ted Shen reviewing the film for the Chicago Reader also compares the film to Cain's writing and also praises the film's actors: "Cast against type, Young manages to be both creepy and sympathetic. Actor-turned-director Irving Pichel gets hard-boiled performances from a solid cast."
Cast
- Susan Hayward as Verna Carlson
- Robert Young as Larry Ballentine
- Jane Greer as Janice Bell
- Rita Johnson as Greta Ballentine
- Tom Powers as Trenton