Young Martha (Barbara Stanwyck) inadvertently causes the death of her cruel, authoritarian aunt. Martha lies to the cops, and Walter (Kirk Douglas), who saw the crime, corroborates the girl's story. Eventually, they wed out of convenience; the meek Walter is genuinely in love, and Martha thinks that her secret is safe since she has married the one witness to her aunt's death. However, when her childhood pal, Sam (Van Heflin), shows up, Martha knows her dark past may not stay a secret for long.
Barbara Stanwyck
Van Heflin
Lizabeth Scott
Kirk Douglas
Director Lewis Milestone, Byron Haskin
Screenplay Robert Rossen
Producer Hal B. Wallis
Cinematography Victor Milner
Editing Archie Marshek
Music Miklós Rózsa
Distributor Paramount Pictures
Film Noir Confidential