Tonight's Movie: Please Believe Me (1950) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

Deborah Kerr is an heiress courted by three men in PLEASE BELIEVE ME (1950), a lightweight comedy released the Warner Archive.

PLEASE BELIEVE ME is part of a "wave" of films directed by Norman Taurog which have just been released by the Archive. I previously reviewed Taurog's LUCKY NIGHT (1939).

Kerr plays Alison Kirbe, who receives a letter at her London home notifying her that she's inherited a ranch from a soldier she'd befriended during the war. She heads for the U.S., not knowing that the ranch is worthless.

Aboard ship Alison is pursued by three men: a con man (Robert Walker) desperate for funds to pay off a mobster; a millionaire playboy (Peter Lawford); and the lawyer (Mark Stevens) who tries to keep the playboy in line.

Given the bright cast, the movie is surprisingly slow-moving, and I started glancing at the clock around the 60-minute mark, well ahead of the film coming to the end of its 87-minute running time.

The cast makes for pleasant company, but it's just a middling film until Alison finally ends up with the right man.

The supporting cast includes Spring Byington, James Whitmore, and J. Carrol Naish. Look for Ian Wolfe in a small role, and Bess Flowers may be found dining at the captain's table aboard the ship.

I was intrigued to note that the movie was produced by Val Lewton, a name more commonly associated with spooky thrillers. This was the next-to-last film produced by Lewton, with the final film being the Universal Western APACHE DRUMS (1951).

PLEASE BELIEVE ME was filmed in black and white by Robert H. Planck. The story and screenplay were written by Nathaniel Curtis.

The Warner Archive DVD is a nice print. The DVD includes the trailer.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection at the WBShop.