The Third Secret — The Third Secret(Blu Ray)
Released in 1964 The Third Secret was directed by respected English director, writer and editor Charles Crichton(The Lavender Hill Mob, A Fish Called Wanda, Dead Of Night). The films rather unusual title comes from a quote, that appears a few times in the movie's runtime ‘The first secret is what we don't tell people, the second secret is what we don't tell ourselves, and the third secret is the truth’. I guess it's best to describe what we have here is a talky & decidedly moodily paced psychological thriller- which rather lacks any real action or thrills, but instead presents an engrossingly atmospheric film, that keeps you guessing until the last final & clever twists.
The film opens with the dying of respected psychologist Dr Leo Whitset in his London home. He’s found by his housekeeper, a gun at his side, and is seemingly saying “I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault”- implying that he’s taken his own life. Fairly soon his plucky & rather intense fourteen-year-old daughter Catherine(Pamela Franklin), approaches respected US TV political commentator Alex Stedman (Stephen Boyd) to help prove that her father didn’t take his life. The pair track down the Doctors four former patients- taking in the likes of pompous & sinister art gallery owner (Richard Attenborough), and arrogant & overbearing judge Sir Frederick Belline(Jack Hawkins).
The Third Secret manages to unfold its mental health-themed plot in a considered, never overplayed, and balanced manner- and it suggests the killer is a paranoid schizophrenic, who can hide their unwell-ness, so you never sure who really is who. As mentioned early much of the film is around the Thames, with the Doctors home & offices sitting at the side of the river- so we get very effectively moody & brooding shots, in & around the river & it’s stark sandbank- these nicely break-up the more lengthy talky moments, as well as adding a feeling watery & mud-bound dread to proceedings.
Extras wise we get a commentary track from two film historians-Dean Brandum and Eloise Ross. This starts off a little shaky & dithering, though over time a chatty rapport forms between the pair- though Mr Brandum does have a tendency to "um" & "ah" a bit. They discuss how the film came about, observations of what’s going on screen, and the different actors & their roles, etc- it’s a good enough track, though not the best I’ve heard on a Powerhouse release. Next, we get Lost Souls- a twenty-three-minute appreciation of the film by author and film historian Neil Sinyard- this sees him discussing the many secrets locked within the film and some that we don’t find an answer to. The bleak, haunting almost ghost story quality of the film. Similar movies from the time, the cast, and Crichton’s other more dramatic & stark films, that sit aside from the Ealing comedies he was known for- this was a very worth & enjoyable featurette. Next, we get two 100 minute audio-only interviews- ones with the director, and the others with Douglas Slocombe who photographed the film. We get three stand-alone interviews with members of the film's crew- these each run between five & eight minutes, and most interesting is with the directors son David Crichton- who worked as third assistant director- so he offers up the interesting behind the scene titbits, and of what it was like working with his father. Lastly, we get the original trailer, and an image gallery- taking in both onset pictures & promotional material.
With this release of The Third Secret Powerhouse films have uncover another lesser known thriller, that’s very well acted, cleverly & thoughtful plotted, and often rather darkly moody in it’s unfold. Certainly worth a look if you looking for an intelligent, & more talky psychological thriller.