Scarlet Angel (1952)

Hiding out from the law, a New Orleans saloon girl (Yvonne De Carlo) is taking care of a very ill Civil War widow (Bodil Miller) and her baby. When the widow suddenly dies, she takes the baby and moves to San Francisco where she passes herself off to the wealthy society family as the widow of their slain son. But how long can she keep the ruse up when her new found cousin (Amanda Blake, TV's GUNSMOKE) is suspicious and then a face from her past, a sea Captain (Rock Hudson) unexpectedly shows up. This formulaic Technicolor potboiler is exceptionally entertaining. One knows exactly where it's going and where it will end up especially if you listen carefully early in the film when a big clue is given. But it's foolish fun and the cinematographer Russell Metty provides lots of lushness. I could have done without the two barroom brawls when even the first one was overkill. Directed by Sidney Salkow. With Richard Denning, Henry Brandon and Dabbs Greer.