This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 Columbia film “The Reckless Moment,” with James Mason, Joan Bennett, Geraldine Brooks, Henry O’Neill, Shepperd Strudwick, David Bair and Roy Roberts. The screenplay was by Henry Garson and Robert W. Sodeberg, adapted by Mel Dinelli and Robert E. Kent, from a Ladies Home Journal story “The Blank Wall” by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding. The photography was by Burnett Guffey, art direction by Cary Odell, set decoration by Frank Tuttle, gowns by Jean Louis, musical score by Hans Salter and musical direction by Morris Stoloff. The producer was Walter Wanger and the director was Max Opuls (Ophuls).
“The Reckless Moment” is available on DVD from Amazon, but you will need an all-region player to watch it.
Writing in the New York Times (Dec. 30, 1949), Bosley Crowther said:
Although it is rather well staged, with credible location settings in Balboa and Los Angeles, it is a feeble and listless drama with a shamelessly callous attitude. The heroine gets away with folly, but we don’t think this picture will.
Harrison’s Reports, Oct. 22, 1949, said: “A rambling thriller that promises more than it delivers.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Oct. 22, 1949, said: “This is in no sense a great picture, but it good solid entertainment.”
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Frances E. Williams.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Kathryn Card.
Brain Trust roll call: Bob Hansen (mystery movie) and Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman).
For Wednesday, we have a dapper mystery gent – around the Daily Mirror HQ we have been calling him an “anchor man.”
Update: This is Shepperd Strudwick
Brain Trust roll call: Earl Bobert (mystery movie), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Pat in Michigan (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Jenny M. (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (Tuesday’s mystery guest), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests).
For Thursday, we have a mysterious, headstrong young woman who is seeing yesterday’s mystery cad and whose mother (coming tomorrow) is terribly old-fashioned and simply doesn’t understand, and…. well, you get the idea.
Update: This is Geraldine Brooks.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery cad), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery cad), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery cad), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery cad), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery cad), McDee (mystery movie, mystery director and Wednesday’s mystery cad), Floyd Thursby (Wednesday’s mystery cad), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery cad), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mystery cad), Patrick (mystery movie and Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E (mystery movie and Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (Tuesday’s mystery woman) and Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
For Friday, our mystery guests discuss George Kaplan.
Update: Our leads, Joan Bennett and James Mason.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery woman), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery woman), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery woman), Jenny M. (Thursday’s mystery woman), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery cad), Patrick (Thursday’s mystery woman), Sarah (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery cad), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Don Danard (Wednesday’s mystery cad), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery woman), David Inman (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Lee Ann, Megan and Thom (Thursday’s mystery woman) and Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery woman).
ladailymirror.com 
I think this is the classic, under-rated film “The Reckless Moment”. I wish I could remember the name of this wonderful actress who played a very important role in the film.
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Frances E. Williams in THE RECKLESS MOMENT.
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“This Reckless Moment” AKA “The Blank Wall”?
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Kathryn Card.
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THE RECKLESS MOMENT. Frances E. Williams Monday and Kathryn Card today.
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Monday’s guest is Frances E. Williams. For Tuesday, we have Kathryn Card. The film is “The Reckless Moment”.
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Kathryn Card for tuesday.
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Kathryn Card
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Kathryn Card for today.
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The Reckless Moment (1949) w/Frances E. Williams, Kathryn Card, Joan Bennett, James Mason, Shepperd Strudwick, Geraldine Brooks, & Roy Roberts.
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On Monday, Frances Williams in “The Reckless Moment”
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Kathryn Card
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John Shepperd, later Shepperd Strudwick.
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Shepperd Strudwick
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Shepperd Strudwick.
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Sheppard Strudwick in THE RECKLESS MOMENT.
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Shepperd Strudwick
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Shepperd Strudwick on Weds. in Max Orphuls’ The Reckless Moment from 1949. James Mason and Joan Bennett should be along soon.
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Wednesday is Sheppard Strudwick.
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Shepperd Strudwick in the Reckless Moment
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Frances E Williams is the star from Monday in The Reckless Moment. Wednesday’s star is Shepperd Strudwick.
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Frances E. Williams, Kathryn Card and Shepperd Strudwick in The Reckless Moment from 1949.
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Monday – Frances E. Williams, Tuesday – Kathryn Card, Wednesday – Shepperd Strudwick, and the movie is 1949’s “The Reckless Moment”
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Movie – The Reckless Moment
Mon – Frances E. Williams
Tues – Kathryn Card
Weds – Shepperd Strudwick
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Tuesday’s mystery woman looks like Kathryn Card.
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Wednesday – Shepperd Strudwick
Is the movie The Reckless Moment?
Monday – Frances E. Williams
Tuesday – Kathryn Card
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Geraldine Brooks. I hope Mr. Mason appears with Ms. Bennett tomorrow.
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Geraldine Brooks.
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Geraldine Brooks.
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Geraldine Brooks
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Geraldine Brooks
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Shepperd Strudwick of CONGO MAISIE fame, today
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Geraldine Brooks on Thursday.
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Thanks to Shepperd Strudwick, I know this movie is “The Reckless Moment” (1949).
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Movie – The Reckless Moment
Mon – Frances E. Williams
Tues – Kathryn Card
Weds – Shepperd Strudwick
Thurs – Geraldine Brooks
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Wednesday,s mystery man is Shepherd Strudwick.
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Thursday’s guest: Geraldine Brooks
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“The Reckless Moment”! I should’ve known that way before today. Geraldine Brooks today, Shepperd Strudwick yesterday, Kathryn Card Tuesday, Frances E. Williams on Monday.
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Thursday’s star is Geraldine Brooks.
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Geraldine Brooks
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Finally Joan Bennett and Mr. James Mason.
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Joan & James discuss THE RECKLESS MOMENT.
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Joan Bennett, James Mason.
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Joan and James on Friday
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Wed is Shepperd Strudwick. Friday we have our stars, Joan Bennett and James Mason — the film is The Reckless Moment.
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Monday is Francis Williams
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Thurs is Geraldine Brooks
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Tues is Kathryn Card
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This week was another fun run. Thanks so much for including Frances E. Williams among the mystery guests. I think it’s great that you spotlight so many wonderful character actors.
Last, but not least: Friday has Joan Bennett and James Mason.
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Joan Bennett and James Mason
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Friday: Joan Bennett and James Mason
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