They Won't Believe Me (1947)

A stock broker (Robert Young) sponges off his wealthy wife (Rita Johnson), abandons his lover (Jane Greer) and runs off with a gold digging secretary (Susan Hayward). On trial for the murder of the gold digging secretary, the scoundrel relates in flashback the circumstances that lead to his being on trial. Directed by Irving Pichel (DESTINATION MOON), this well executed film noir is a real sleeper. The usually bland Robert Young has his best part ever and he plays it ambiguously enough so that you're never certain if he's lying or telling the truth. He also summons up just enough sexual aggressiveness that you can believe the three women would want him. Its reputation among noir aficionados has grown over the ensuing years but its still a film not enough classic film fans are aware of. Pichel effectively uses the flashback form to generate a portending suspense that arrives at an unexpected conclusion. Among the women, Greer's role is too drab for her to do much with but as the manipulating wife, Rita Johnson brings some authority to the part and Susan Hayward does the calculating bitch act which eventually would bring her stardom. With Tom Powers and Janet Shaw.