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The Accused

Play trailer Poster for The Accused 1948 1h 41m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
When college student Bill (Douglas Dick) grows inappropriately fond of psychology professor Wilma (Loretta Young) and tries to rape her, she fights back. But as she defends herself, she accidentally kills her attacker. Wilma then moves Bill's corpse to a nearby beach and makes his death look like the result of a cliff diving accident. But her guilt over the incident builds, and police Lt. Dorgan (Wendell Corey) begins to suspect that Wilma knows more about the death than she's letting on.

Critics Reviews

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Kathy Fennessy Video Librarian Magazine Cinematographer Milton R. Krasner employs an Alfred Hitchcock-like look with nighttime scenes so dark that it can be hard to make everything out. Notably, most of the principal cast had or would work with Hitchcock... Rated: 3/4 Apr 14, 2022 Full Review Peter Canavese Celluloid Dreams A good and unusual noir in a decent special edition blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Rated: 3/4 Jan 6, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Wendell Corey's copper is both a heinous and a ridiculous character, but everything else clicks. Rated: 3/4 Dec 4, 2021 Full Review Lauren Humphries-Brooks Citizen Dame If The Accused is ultimately of its time, it also attempts to stretch beyond it. While not exactly a progressive film, it nevertheless grapples with assault, victim-blaming, and women existing within a deeply patriarchal culture. Nov 18, 2021 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dour and rather dullish but well-acted psychological crime drama. Rated: B- Feb 7, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I usually enjoy this kind of story, the murderer who has to work closely with the people trying to solve the crime, and slowly feels the noose tightening around his/her neck. It's terrific in Dial M for Murder and Where the Sidewalk Ends (even The Woman in the Window, despite its silly ending). This is a slightly more subdued version of it, tense but more in a psychological way. A little heavy on the mumbo jumbo maybe, but not annoyingly so. Loretta Young does a good job with it. I still don't think much of Robert Cummings, his smarminess nearly ruins Saboteur and he's not much better here. However, Wendell Corey is always a delight. There's a few clever bits of business, particularly with reflections. The film does suffer from a couple of common noir flaws: a lousy score and a conclusion that's too tidy. Otherwise, though, it's quite enjoyable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely flawless cinematically. Every shot is pristine, and Dieterle sure knew how to work the Venetian blinds. All problems rest in story and acting. Loretta Young, even while exuding movie-star power, is unable to impart the needed edge of excellence or camp that could have made this film the classic it looks like. (Joan Crawford could have done it.) But it's still certainly worth the time. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Accused

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The Accused

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Movie Info

Synopsis When college student Bill (Douglas Dick) grows inappropriately fond of psychology professor Wilma (Loretta Young) and tries to rape her, she fights back. But as she defends herself, she accidentally kills her attacker. Wilma then moves Bill's corpse to a nearby beach and makes his death look like the result of a cliff diving accident. But her guilt over the incident builds, and police Lt. Dorgan (Wendell Corey) begins to suspect that Wilma knows more about the death than she's letting on.
Director
William Dieterle
Producer
Hal B. Wallis
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
1h 41m