The Family Secret (1951)

"David" (John Derek) returns home one night to the home of his parents just before they receive the terrible news of the death of his best friend after what appears to be a drunken brawl. His lawyer father "Howard" (Lee J. Cobb) smells a bit of a rat and right from the get-go, we are aware of precisely what happened - and family loyalties are soon to be tested. These strains only worsen when an illegal bookie - already of interest to the police - is charged with murder and his wife asks Cobb to save him from the chair. Thus far, it's all fairly simple, neat and tidy but sadly the plot now takes a few silly turns as "David", his would-be-girlfriend "Lee" (Jody Lawrence) and serendipity get hold of the plot and it really loses it's way. Had it just been left as a family drama, it might have worked better - but Henry Levin just didn't have enough story here to string this out for all but ninety minutes, and by the end the whole scenario was disappointing. Cobb looks largely disinterested in the whole thing and I'm afraid I felt much the same way.