Name: The Dark File
Genre: Drama
Released: 1958-12-29
Duration: 30 min
Cast: Kim Hunter, Lin McCarthy, Patricia Breslin

fine work by Kim & Pat in a soggy soap opera

"The Dark File" by Irving Wallace is certainly not up to the level of his best-selling novels like "The Chapman Report" or "The Prize", and is stillborn on "Alcoa Theatre". It does provide a couple of dramatic roles for its talented leading ladies.

Kim Hunter is especially adept at portraying the heavy, a scheming woman who actually engenders sympathy at the very end. She spends the show manipulating, a true homewrecker you can love to hate. Yet her performance is subtle, not barnstorming at all.

Her husband, a psychiatrist, has just died, and the man she really loves (woodenly played by Lyn McCarthy, miscast) is the psychiatrist taking over her husband's practice and is about to marry Patricia Breslin. Going through her late husband's files, to help transfer them to Lyn, she finds Pat's file as a patient, and in flashback from the file we see how troubled Breslin was to get married but her groom died, and she ended up giving away the baby.

In idle conversation, Kim mentions how her spouse would often talk to her about cases, never mentioning any names, and she uses Pat's case as an example. Pat thinks it's a coincidence and tries to play dumb, but Kim schemes to get her into trouble with Lyn and it looks like their marriage is off. The plot contrivances are not very believable, but the story ends with issues tied up neatly and a strong, ironic ending.

Casting McCarthy ruins the show, as he is the usual wimp chosen for leading man precisely not to distract from the strong female characters. The story needed the balancing premise of a solid male character (whose affections both women were vying for), say an actor with an edge like a Gig Young or George Grizzard.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

Widow of psychiatrist uses late husband's case files to undermine rival's relationship with boyfriend.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

The Dark File

Photos

Top Cast6

User reviews2

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed