seymourblack-1 For some unaccountable reason, this brilliantly plotted crime drama has been consistently under-appreciated for decades. Its offbeat story is full of the kind of suspenseful moments and wonderful twists that make it riveting to watch and its conclusion is both unpredictable and deeply ironic. Unsurprisingly, for a film noir, greed, adultery and a murder trial feature strongly and the confusion that exists over the identities of a couple of dead bodies adds further intrigue to the whole proceedings.Larry Ballentine (Robert Young) is a young man who's on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Verna Carlson (Susan Hayward). In court, he's openly described by his own defence lawyer, as being heartless, shameful and cruel, however, the lawyer also asserts that his client, despite his character-flaws, certainly isn't a murderer and to convince the jury of this, the defendant is invited to the stand to give his account of the events that culminated in the death of Miss Carlson.Larry explains that despite being married to Gretta (Rita Johnson), who's a beautiful, wealthy and refined society lady, he also used to regularly meet magazine writer Janice Bell (Jane Greer) in a New York City restaurant on Saturday afternoons where they enjoyed drinks together and conversations about their shared interest in boats. Their feelings for each other became a problem when Janice announced that she could no longer carry on their relationship in secret and so had arranged to be transferred to her magazine's Montreal office. Larry told her that his marriage had become dysfunctional and that he intended to divorce Gretta. The couple then agreed to meet that evening to catch the night train to Montreal.Back home when Larry was packing his case, Gretta told him that she was aware that he hadn't been happy for some time and so had purchased a partnership for him in a Los Angeles investment brokerage and had rented a house for them in Beverly Hills. Larry, who'd married his wife for her money and social standing, found this prospect too good to refuse and so simply stood Janice up and moved to California. There, in his new job, a secretary called Verna Carlson caught his eye and soon they started an affair but when Gretta found out, she reacted by selling her share in the brokerage and allowed Larry to decide if he wanted to move with her to a mountain ranch that she'd purchased . Again, he followed the money but soon felt trapped living in such a remote location without even a telephone to enable him to keep contact with the outside world and so, when he got an opportunity, he contacted Verna and rekindled their relationship.In court, Larry then goes on to describe in detail how this decision led to the deaths of both Verna and Gretta and to him facing a murder charge.As Larry's story is told, it becomes clear that he's a parasitic playboy with no integrity, work-ethic or concern for anyone else but himself. Furthermore, he's a serial adulterer who has no qualms about planning to relieve his wife of the money from her bank account or planning to murder her. Strangely, for someone with so many reprehensible qualities, he's portrayed in this movie as an affable and rather friendly guy who doesn't suffer any kind of regrets or pangs of conscience about his behaviour until he winds up in court. Robert Young's marvellous portrayal of this character makes him surprisingly sympathetic and as a result adds an extra layer of enjoyment to this superb movie. The supporting cast also provide good performances with Rita Johnson, Jane Greer and Susan Hayward all perfect in their important roles."They Won't Believe Me" is visually strong with some high-angle camera shots and expressionistic cinematography which contribute strongly to its atmosphere. Its strongest features however, are its plot and its sharply written script which brings the action to life so effectively.

LeonLouisRicci The Strong Cast of Robert Young, Jane Greer, Susan Hayward, and Rita Johnson Along With a Deep an Adulterous Story Propel This One Along. The Protagonist is a Gigolo, Cad, and You're Only Likely to Find That in a Leading Man in the World of Noir.The Long and Complicated Affairs and Other Bad Behavior are Told in Flashback and the "Truth" of it All is Forever In Doubt. Hayward and Greer are Beautiful Enough to Lure the Wandering Libido of Young Easily and He Slides from One to Another Like a Slimy EEL.There isn't Much Style or Photographic Expressionism Although there are a Few Scenes that Evoke an Other World Like the Dark Pools of Water and the Palomino Loyalty. The Narration from the Witness Stand Over the Flashbacks Adds a Bit of the Surreal and Make it All Seem Dreamlike.Overall, Maybe Not Top-Tier Film-Noir but a Solid Entry and the Attractive Performers Along with Some Snappy Writing Make This Worth Checking Out. It is Unlikely to Disappoint.Note...Some reliable sources say that the original 95 Minute version is hard to find and most prints available show an 80 Min. running time.

robert-temple-1 There she is, Jane Greer, as cool and beautiful as ever, and yet she is dumped by Robert Young. Now how do you figure that? Not only that, but he also dumps Susan Hayward at her most sleek and flirtatious. So who is this guy? Well, he is Robert Young at his most amiable, perfectly cast as a charming man of shallow feelings whose main interests are money and comfort. And those come from his rich wife, expertly played by Rita Johnson, aged 34 at this time. The next year she appeared in THE BIG CLOCK (1948, see my review). But it was in that year, 1948, that she suffered a terrible accident which caused severe brain damage and ended her career as a major actress. Her career had lasted only eleven years, and although she made appearances afterwards in films, she was never a significant player again, and died tragically at the age of 52 of a brain haemorrhage. This film therefore shows her off at her best, only months before her accident. This film also shows Jane Greer at the very peak of her talents and allure. This was the film she made just before OUT OF THE PAST (1947, see my review), in which she gave an Oscar-worthy performance of staggering power and malignity. So here is Robert Young, smug and comfortable, and certainly not willing to leave his wife and her money, no matter how many beautiful and irresistible women he has affairs with, and who want him for themselves. It is thus a perfect recipe for a major noir film, which this certainly is. Because of course Young is accused of murdering one of the gals. But there are numerous twists to this tale, and we know, though the prosecutor does not, that Robert Young did not really kill Susan Hayward at all, because we saw her die in a car crash. But the trouble is, Young pretended that the woman in the car crash was his wife (who has meanwhile disappeared because she too is dead), so how can he now explain that it was really Susan Hayward in the car crash (burned beyond all recognition) and that he therefore could not possibly have murdered her? Try telling that to a jury. This is certainly a classic noir situation. The film is excellently directed by Irving Pichel, and due to his direction and the dynamic cast, the film is extraordinarily compelling, and it really is a superb film noir.

MikeMagi "They Won't Believe Me" is a noir tale that cries out for Robert Mitchum or Dan Duryea, someone who can play an irresistible heel. Instead, you get Robert Young trying to doff his Mr. Nice Guy image. But why Susan Hayward and Jane Greer are so smitten with him remains a mystery. The chemistry just isn't there. Hayward, on the other hand, strikes sparks as a gold-digger with a heart of her favorite metal. Her slightest gestures, just the trace of a smile, everything about her is sexually provocative. The story itself is entertaining. Stockbroker Young keeps trying to extricate himself from rich, demanding wife Rita Johnson but she holds the purse strings and he doesn't want to lose his deluxe lifestyle. Then a fortuitous accident seemingly solves his marital problems -- until he's charged with murder. Well worth watching but I still don't believe Marcus Welby as a seductive scoundrel.