Because Of You (1952)

Set during WWII, a pretty but naive blonde (Loretta Young) is duped by her lover (Alex Nicol) into accepting stolen merchandise which lands both of them in prison. After she is released on parole, she takes a job as a nurse's aide where she falls in love with a wounded combat pilot (Jeff Chandler) from a prestigious Philadelphia family. When he proposes, she accepts but doesn't tell him of her prison past ..... big mistake! Directed by Joseph Pevney (MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES), this soapy melodrama with noir-ish trimmings starts off promisingly but it can't sustain itself and by the film's denouement, it has sunk into mawkishness. Similarly, at the beginning of the movie Young is surprisingly sexy and reminiscent of her pre-code movies like MIDNIGHT MARY but as soon as she takes the high road, she becomes her insufferable ladylike image. Jeff Chandler is quite good here balancing both vulnerability and rage and he manages to spark some chemistry with Young in their romantic scenes. Almost but not quite but engrossing enough to keep you watching. With Frances Dee, Alexander Scourby, Mae Clarke and Lynne Roberts.