The Family Secret Backdrop Blur
The Family Secret Poster

The Family Secret

"One mad raging moment behind the roadhouse...and a lifetime of regret!"

When his son accidentally kills someone, a lawyer must defend the man wrongly charged with the murder.

Top Cast

  • John Derek

    John Derek

    David Clark

  • Lee J. Cobb

    Lee J. Cobb

    Howard Clark

  • Jody Lawrance

    Jody Lawrance

    Lee Pearson

  • Erin O'Brien-Moore

    Erin O'Brien-Moore

    Ellen Clark

  • Santos Ortega

    Santos Ortega

    George Redman

  • Henry O'Neill

    Henry O'Neill

    Donald Muir

  • Carl Benton Reid

    Carl Benton Reid

    Dr. Reynolds

  • Peggy Converse

    Peggy Converse

    Sybil Bradley

  • Jean Alexander

    Jean Alexander

    Vera Stone

Overview

When his son accidentally kills someone, a lawyer must defend the man wrongly charged with the murder.

Rating

6.1 / 10
14 Reviews
0 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    5 Apr 26, 2022

    "David" (John Derek) returns home one night to the home of his parents just before they receive the terrible news of the death of his best friend after what appears to be a drunken brawl. His lawyer father "Howard" (Lee J. Cobb) smells a bit of a rat and right from the get-go, we are aware of precisely what happened - and family loyalties are soon to be tested. These strains only worsen when an illegal bookie - already of interest to the police - is charged with murder and his wife asks Cobb to save him from the chair. Thus far, it's all fairly simple, neat and tidy but sadly the plot now takes a few silly turns as "David", his would-be-girlfriend "Lee" (Jody Lawrence) and serendipity get hold of the plot and it really loses it's way. Had it just been left as a family drama, it might have worked better - but Henry Levin just didn't have enough story here to string this out for all but ninety minutes, and by the end the whole scenario was disappointing. Cobb looks largely disinterested in the whole thing and I'm afraid I felt much the same way.

Recommendations