Discussion of "Secret Beyond the Door"

Secret Beyond the Door (1947) is an American psychological thriller directed by Fritz Lang and starring Joan Bennett and Michael Redgrave. The strong supporting cast includes Anne Revere, Barbara O’Neil, Natalie Schafer, and Paul Cavanagh. The cinematography was by Stanley Cortez (The Magnificent Ambersons, The Night of the Hunter, and The Three Faces of Eve. The music was by Miklos Rozsa (Double Indemnity, Spellbound, Ben-Hur).

Celia (Bennett), a rich, young heiress meets a mysterious man, architect Mark Lamphere (Redgrave) on vacation in Mexico. The two fall in love instantly and are married. The honeymoon is happy but trouble is on the horizon when in a playful mood, Celia locks her husband out of their hotel room.

When they return to Mark’s home, Celia discovers that Mark was married before and has a teenage son—things Mark never told Celia. She also discovers that Mark’s sister Caroline (Revere) and Mark’s assistant Miss Robey also reside in her home with Mark.

In a conversation with Mark’s son, David (Mark Dennis) tells Celia that Mark killed his mother. Shocked, Celia now worries that Mark may be planning to kill her as well. And then there are Mark’s rooms that recreate famous murders of women! What does it all mean and is Celia’s life in serious danger?

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