They Wont Believe Me (1947): This is more than just a trip to Montreal.

They Won't Believe Me (1947). Cast: Susan Hayward, Robert Young, Rita Johnson and Jane Greer. Film noir. Director: Irving Pichel. Produced by Alfred Hitchcock longtime assistant, Joan Harrison.

Womanizer Larry Ballentine, is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend and wants to take the stand in his own defense. During his testimony, we learn that he married his wife, Gretta, for her money and had many affairs. He makes plans to leave his wife for Verna, withdrawing all of his wife's money from the bank. Larry's plan falls apart after Verna is killed in a car accident. This film has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. What will the jury decide?

Joan Harrison, worked on the screenplays for four Alfred Hitchcock films: Rebecca (1940) and produced the director's TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents as well film noirs : two with director Robert Siodmak (Phantom Lady, 1944; Uncle Harry, 1945). Joining Harrison were director Irving Pichel (The Most Dangerous Game, 1932); screenwriter Jonathan Latimer, who wrote Nocturne (1946) and The Big Clock (1948); cinematographer Harry J. Wild, who worked on Murder, My Sweet (1944) and Cornered (1945); and composer Roy Webb, whose music scores for film noirs like The Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) and Crossfire (1947).

What I enjoyed most about this film was Robert Young in the role of Larry Ballentine. I was used to seeing, Young in romantic comedies. In this Film Noir, He plays a liar, a thief, a coward who is lacking in moral character and yet it is one of his best, performances. In my opinion. :)

Rita A. Johnson (August 13, 1913 – October 31, 1965), began acting on Broadway in 1935 and started her film career two years later.

She played a murderess in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) and a doomed wife in the RKO film noir They Won't Believe Me (1947).

Her film career came almost to a complete stop after a 1948 accident (a hair dryer fell on her head) that required delicate brain surgery.

Her screen time in movies after that was limited due to her reduced mobility and powers of concentration.

She also suffered from alcoholism from the time of her injuries  until her death of a brain hemorrhage on October 31, 1965.

Rita Johnson

She was born Rita McSean, she attended the New England Conservatory of Music. At one time she considered entering the Olympics as a swimmer, but couldn't afford to hire a trainer. She began acting on Broadway in 1935 and began her film career two years after that. She had a memorable role in the They Won't Believe Me (1947), Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) and The Big Clock (1948). Her drama teacher told her she had no talent. Years later, after performing in Hollywood movies, Rita received a letter of apology from the teacher and complimented her on her on screen performances. Rita had the letter framed and hung it on her dressing room wall. Johnson's film career came almost to a complete stop after a hair dryer fell on her head that required brain surgery.


List of Rita Films:

The Second Face (1950)
Family Honeymoon (1949)
An Innocent Affair(1948)
The Big Clock (1948)
Sleep, My Love (1948)
They Won't Believe Me (1947) They Wont Believe Me, movie clip.
The Michigan Kid (1947)
The Perfect Marriage (1947)
Pardon My Past (1945)
The Naughty Nineties (1945)
The Affairs of Susan (1945)
Thunderhead - Son of Flicka (1945)
My Friend Flicka (1943)
The Major and the Minor (1942)
Appointment for Love (1941)
Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
The Golden Fleecing (1940)
Edison, the Man (1940)
Forty Little Mothers (1940)
Congo Maisie (1940)
Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939)
They All Come Out (1939)
Stronger Than Desire (1939)
6,000 Enemies (1939)
Broadway Serenade (1939)
Within the Law (1939)
Honolulu (1939)
The Girl Downstairs (1938)
Rich Man, Poor Girl (1938)
Smashing the Rackets (1938)
Letter of Introduction (1938)
London by Night (1937)

The Major and the Minor (1942)

The Major and the Minor (1942). Comedy. Director: Billy Wilder. The screenplay by Wilder and Charles Brackett is based on the play Connie Goes Home by Edward Childs Carpenter. Cast: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland and Rita Johnson.

After living in New York for one year, Susan decides to return home, but.. learns at the train stations ticket window that the fare has gone up and she does not have enough for the fare. Susan quickly comes up with an idea when she sees a child buy the ticket at half-price.

She runs into the women's bathroom and dresses as a little girl. She then pays a stranger to buy her a child's ticket on the train. When one of the conductors catches her smoking a cigarette, Susan hides in the sleeper cabin occupied by Major Philip Kirby.

Philip, befriends "Su-su" and hides her from the conductors and lets her stay the night in the lower bunk.

The following day, the train is delayed by flooding on the tracks, and Philip's fiancee Pamela and her father, Colonel Hill, drive up to meet him. When Pamela sees Susan, she become suspicious. Philip brings Susan, to the military school to prove that she is twelve year old girl.

After the misunderstanding is cleared up, Philip insists that Susan stays until someone can take her home. Pamela's teenage sister Lucy sees through Susan, but because her sister is a thorn in her side, she befriends Susan.

Lucy shares that Pamela claims she is helping Philip to get active duty, she actually has been using her connections to prevent him from enlisting. Susan decides to trick Pamela's connections into getting Philip reinstated, when Pamela hears the news, she calls off their engagement.

Pamela learns of Susan's involvement and threatens to expose her and Philip in a scandal. Will Susan reveal her true age to Philip?

I enjoyed this fluffy comedy because of its two stars. Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland who had perfect on screen chemistry in the film. it was also interesting to watch Billy Wilder's directorial debut.



Fun Fact:

Wilder was driving home from the studio one evening and pulled up at a red light next to Ray Milland. He called out, "I'm doing a picture. Would you like to be in it?," and the actor said, "Sure." Wilder sent him the script. Three years later the two men would collaborate on The Lost Weekend, which would win Oscars for both of them.