Main Cast: Merle Oberon, Franchot Tone, Thomas Mitchell, Fay Bainter, Rex Ingram, John Qualen
Release Year: 1944
Country: US
Run Time: 93 minutes
Plot
Adapted from a Saturday Evening Post serial by Frank and Marian Cockrell, Dark Waters stars Merle Oberon as heiress Leslie Calvin, a woman with a neurotic aversion to water. This stems from the fact that in her childhood, Leslie was one of four survivors of a torpedoed steamship. Preying upon Leslie's fears, conniving Mr. Sydney (Thomas Mitchell), a guest at the Calvin family's Louisiana plantation, concocts a campaign of terror designed to drive the poor girl crazy so that he can claim her vast inheritance. Sydney and his cohorts also have the presence of mind to murder all of Leslie's closest relatives, leaving her utterly helpless. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
On the whole, Dark Waters is only a passable "suspenser," but it provides plenty of entertainment for fans of Hitchcock-like thrillers. As is so often the case, the problem lies with the screenplay, which uses elements that have been seen far too many times before and since. A Gaslight-type of set-up, the plot needs more invention, the dialogue more snap and/or depth, and the characters more originality in order for Waters to stand out. However, Waters does benefit from its location, the Louisian bayous. Director Andre De Toth, his designers and cinematographers have been able to make use of the dark, dangerous bayou scenery (not filmed on location, of course) to add a layer of menace and suspense that the screenplay itself strives for but often lacks. De Toth is in fine form; if he can't quite prove himself master over the material as Hitchcock might, he still adds a signature to the piece and gives it character. He might have done even better had his leads been more enthralling than Merle Oberon and Franchot Tone, both of whom are adequate but nothing more. De Toth has much better luck with his supporting cast, especially Thomas Mitchell, who is quite effective in a change-of-pace role. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Charles Odds - Art Director, Jack Crosby - Choreography, André De Toth - Director, James Smith - Editor, Miklos Rozsa - Composer (Music Score), Miklos Rozsa - Musical Direction/Supervision, John Mescall - Cinematographer, Louis Clyde Stoumen - Cinematographer, Benedict E. Bogeaus - Producer, Maurice Yates - Set Designer, Harry Redmond - Special Effects, Arthur Horman - Screenwriter, Joan Harrison - Screenwriter, Marian Cockrell - Screenwriter, Marian Cockrell - Book Author, Frank Cockrell - Book Author
