Fritz Bauer Institut · Cinematography of the Holocaust


Secret Beyond the Door. D: Lang [US, 1947-1948]

ID

FBW000278      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1947-1948

Original Title

Secret Beyond the Door

Other Title(s)

Geheimnis hinter der Tür (German)
Le secret dernière la port [FR]

Directed by

Fritz Lang

Produced by

Diana Productions, Inc., Los Angeles, CA; for Universal International Pictures Co. (Universal Pictures Company, Inc.), Universal City, CA (New York, NY)

Staff

Producer: Fritz Lang; Executive producer: Walter Wanger; Assistent director: William Holland; Script: Silvia Richards; Based on: Rufus King (nach "Museum Piece No. 13"); Camera: Stanley Cortez; Editing: Arthur D. Hilton; Sound: Leslie I. Carey, Glenn E. Anderson; Art direction: Max Parker; Set decoration: Russell A. Gausman, John P. Austin; Animation: Oskar Fischinger (Traumsequenz); Costumes: Travis Banton; Haidressing: Carmen Dirigo; Music: Miklós Rózsa; Orchestration: Eugene Zador

Cast

Joan Bennett (Celia Lamphere); Michael Redgrave (Mark Lamphere); Anne Revere (Caroline Lamphere); Barbara O'Neil (Miss Robey); Natlie Schaefer (Edith Potter); Paul Cavanagh (Rick Barrett); Anabel Shaw (Intellectual Sub-Deb); Rosa Rey (Paquita); James Seay (Bob Dwigh); Mark Dennis (David); Virginia Brissac (Sarah); Houseley Stevenson (Andy); Kay Morley (Sub-Deb #1); Marie Harmon (Sub-Deb #2); Crane Whitley (Lavender Falls Man); Virginia Farmer (Lavender Falls Woman); Eddy C. Waller (Lem); Lucio Villegas (Priest); Paul Fierro (Fighter); Julian Rivero (Proprietor); Paul Scardon (Owl Eyes); Danny Duncan (Ferret Faced Man); Frank Dae (Country Squire); Pedro Regas (Waiter); Donna Martell (als: Donna De Mario) (Young Mexican Girl); David Cota (Small Mexican Knife Fighter); Tom Chatterton (Judge); Ralph Littlefield (Gothic Man); Nolan Leary (Station Agen); Watson Downs (Conductor); Wayne C. Treadway (Beefy Man); Jessie Graves (Porter); Donald Kerr (Ticket Man); Robert Espinosa (Altar Boy); Robert Barber (Altar Boy); Tony Rodriguez (Altar Boy); Peggy Remington (Dean of Woman); Harry Denny (College President)

Length

99'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Dates

- 20 Dec 1947: Trade show, Los Angeles, CA
- 15 Jan 1948: Release date, New York, NY (Winter Garden)
- 15 Jan 1948: Premiere, New York, NY (Winter Garden)
- 08 Mar 1948: Copyright
- 09 Nov 1970: First run, GFR, TV, ZDF DF
- 23 Nov 1974: Rerun, TV, ZDF
- 11 May 1983: Rerun, TV, ARD

Remarks

1: Die von Oskar Fischinger gestaltete Traumsequenz wird in dem fertigen Film nicht verwendet.

Further Remarks

- PCA Cert. No.: 12621
- Studioaufnahmen: Universal City, CA
- Drehzeit: 61 Tage

Abstract

In this version of the Bluebeard tale, a young, trust-funded New Yorker goes to Mexico on vacation before marrying an old friend whom she considers a safe choice for a husband. However, there she finds her dream man - a handsome, mysterious stranger who spots her in a crowd. In a matter of days they marry, honeymoon and move to his mansion, to which he has added a wing full of rooms where famous murders took place. She discovers many secrets about the house and her husband, but what she really wants to know is what is in the room her husband always keeps locked.

Subject Terms

Mexico

Holdings

- Kinemathek Hamburg, Hamburg

Bibliography

- Kaplan, E. Ann: Fritz Lang. A Guide to References and Resources. Boston: K.G. Hall, 1981
- Bernstein, Matthew: "Fritz Lang, Incorporated", in: Velvet Light Trap, Nr. 22, 1986
- Sturm, Georges: Fritz Lang. films, textes, références. Nancy: Presses universitaires Nancy, 1990
- Eisenschitz, Bernard / Bertetto, Paolo: Fritz Lang. La mise en scène. Paris: Cinématheque Française, 1993
- Bernstein, Matthew: Walter Wanger. Hollywood Independent. Berkeley, CA / Los Angeles, CA / London: University of California Press, 1994
- Hoeppner, Klaus (Red.): Fritz Lang. Filmblätter. Filmografie. Bibliografie, Filmheft, Nr. 6, Berlin: Filmmuseum Berlin - Deutsche Kinemathek, 2001
- Aurich, Rolf / Jacobsen, Wolfgang / Schnauber, Cornelius (Hg.): Fritz Lang. Leben und Werk. Bilder und Dokumente. Berlin: Jovis, 2001
- Bourghet, Jean Loup: "Intellectuell engagé ou dilettante? Walter Wanger, un producteur 'independant' à Hollywood", in: Positif (Paris), Nr. 403, Mai, 01.05.2001