The Third Secret (1964)

When an eminent psychoanalyst (Peter Copley) is found dead in his office, the police rule it a suicide. But the man's young daughter (Pamela Franklin) doesn't believe it was suicide but murder. To this end, she enlists the aid of a prominent broadcast journalist (Stephen Boyd), who coincidentally was also a patient of the deceased doctor. Directed by Charles Crichton (A FISH CALLED WANDA), this is an intelligent and absorbing psychological thriller. That it is also borderline pretentious is easily overlooked. Like other films of its ilk (SPELLBOUND for one), its superficial Freudian-isms are just seasoning to spice up the proceedings. The protagonist is an interesting role or would be if a stronger actor than Stephen Boyd had played it. Boyd's lack of weight is more than compensated by young Pamela Franklin whose performance is remarkably assured for an actress who's only 13 years old. The cast includes Richard Attenborough, Jack Hawkins, Diane Cilento, Alan Webb, Rachel Kempson and in her film debut, Judi Dench.