This week’s mystery movie was the 1946 International Pictures film Temptation, with Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas, Leonore Ulric, Arnold Moss, Robert Capa, Aubrey Mather, Ludwig Stossel, Andre Charlot, Suzanne Cloutier and Gloria Lloyd.
Photography by Lucien Ballard.
Production design by Bernard Herzbrun.
Gowns for Miss Oberon by Orry Kelly.
Edited by Ernest J. Nims.
Assistant director Frank Shaw.
Makeup by Norbert Miles and Jack Pierce.
Hairstyles by Carmen Dirigo.
Sound by Glenn Anderson.
Technical direction by C.S. Ramsay-Hill.
Set decoration by Hugh Hunt.
Music by Daniele Amfitheatrof.
Screenplay by Robert Thoeren.
From the novel Bella Donna by Robert Hichens.
And the play by James Bernard Fagan.
Produced by Edward Small.
Directed by Irving Pichel.
Further information on Temptation is available from the AFI Catalog.
Temptation doesn’t seem to have been released commercially, but you can find it on the Internet without much trouble.
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I picked Temptation because of its marginal connection to the Black Dahlia – Anne Toth, one of Elizabeth Short’s roommates, appears in a few promotional stills on the set with George Brent. She doesn’t seem to be in the movie, as far as I can tell.
The movie is a bit plodding, but the photography is gorgeous and Orry Kelly did a zillion outfits for Merle Oberon. She has a costume change every five minutes!
I’m pretty sure Bosley Crowther hated this movie – or he fobbed it off on one of the alphabet critics who hated it.
Indeed, he hated it (Dec. 25, 1946):
It takes more than Merle Oberon modeling a wardrobe of Victorian costumes with tight bodices and bustles and temptatious decolletage to put life into the latest film version of Bella Donna, Robert Hitchens’ oft-told tale. It also takes more than Charles Korvin, a granite-chinned actor from France, playing her suave paramour and accomplice in mischief to strike dramatic fire. That is why Eddie Small’s Temptation, which came to Loew’s Criterion yesterday, is but a masquerade entertainment — and highly old-fashioned at that.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Lenore Ulric.
For Tuesday, we have this adorable mystery couple.
Update: This is Mary Young, whom we had last Tuesday. And George M. Carleton.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious maid) and Anne Papineau (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious maid).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mystery fellow.
Update: This is Arnold Moss.
We also have a mystery woman with Back of the Head Lady.
Update: This is Suzanne Cloutier with Merle Oberon as Back of the Head Woman.
Brain Trust roll call: Anne Papineau (Tuesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery women).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Charles Korvin.
And what’s this? Another mysterious fellow.
Update: This is Paul Lukas with Arnold Moss as Back of the Head Guy.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Woman), Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Woman, plus our mystery fellow’s avocation), Jenny M. (mystery movie, all mystery guests and Wednesday’s Back of the Head Woman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and all mystery guests, plus Wednesday’s Back of the Head Woman), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mysterious fellow), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie, all mystery guests and Wednesday’s Back of the Head Woman).
For Friday, we have our mysterious leading man.
Update: This is George Brent. What a handsome teacup!
And our mysterious leading lady in one of her many costume changes for this film.
Update: And this is Merle Oberon.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Benito (mystery movie, Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Incredible Inman (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Megan and Thom (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Greg (mystery movie, all mystery guests and Back of the Head Persons, plus mysterious leads).
ladailymirror.com 
Lenore Ulric in TEMPTATION (1946).
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Lenore Ulric in “Temptation”
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Jeanne de Casalis?
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Interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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JENNY LAMOUR. Suzy Delair.
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Alas, I’m afraid not….
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Are you playing a trick on us and it’s IS PARIS BURNING?
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Alas, I’m afraid not. I’m tricky, but not that way. At least this week!
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Oh, I know that face. This is going to bug me. At least she seems to approve of such goings on.
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Is it Rafaela Ottiano?
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Interesting guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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George M. Carleton and Mary Young
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Ha! Seeing Tuesday’s lady (who was also in last week’s movie) helped a lot.
Temptation 1946
Mon – Lenore Ulric is the maid. What a career she had!
Tues – Mary Young is next to George M. Carleton (I think) Carleton is listed as the husband of Mary Young’s character, so I’m going by that.
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Tuesday is Charles Colburn
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Arnold Moss; Merle Oberon, Suzanne Cloutier.
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George M. Carleton, Mary Young.
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Sure looks like Charles Coburn on Tuesday, playing … the Charles Coburn character in something.
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Is that Mary Young on Tuesday, who we recently saw in ‘Shock’?
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Lenore Ulric for Monday, in ‘Temptation’?
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Arnold Moss – I learned a new world today because of Mr Moss. He was a cruciverbalist – a generator of crossword puzzles. He made them for the NYT. Impressive, at least to me.
Image 2 has Suzanne Cloutier and BOTHW Merle Oberon.
The plot of this movie reminds me of “Ivy” a previous mystery movie you gave us. What will be the fate of Ms Oberon? Any elevator shafts in this story?
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Movie is Temptation (1946)
Lenore Ulric
Mary Young
George M. Carleton
Arnold Moss
Susanne Cloutier
Merle Oberon (back of head)
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Lenore Ulrich, George M. Carleton, Mary Young, Arnold Moss, Suzanne Cloutier and Merle Oberon in TEMPTATION.
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They say that moss doesn’t grow on a rolling stone, thought it might be tempted to try.
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On Wednesday, Arnold Moss and Suzanne Cloutier
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Hm Wednesday…George E. Stone?
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TEMPTATION. lenore Ulric Monday, Mary YOung and George M. Carleton Tuesday, Arnold Mmoss and Suzanna Clothier today.
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BOTH woman today is Merle Oberon.
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Charles Korvin and Paul Lukas with BOTH ARnold Moss.
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Charles Korvin in image 1 / Paul Lukas and BOTHG Arnold Moss again, but this time in his inspector uniform, so maybe this is an official visit regarding our leading lady’s part in recent, lethal activities.
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Fez man Arnold Moss, Paul Lukas and Charles Korvin in TEMPTATION 1946
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Charles Korvin; Paul Lukas, Arnold Moss.
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Charles Korvin and Paul Lukas today, making this “Temptation.”
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Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas and Arnold Moss.
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Our movie this week is Temptation. Our mystery guests are:
Monday: Lenore Ulric
Tuesday: George M. Carleton and Mary Young
Wednesday: Arnold Moss and Suzanne Cloutier
Thursday: Charles Korvin and Paul Lukas
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Hm, Charles Korvin and Paul Lukas
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The movie is Temptation. Monday’s maid is Lenore Ulric. Tuesday’s couple are Mary Young and George M. Carleton. Hm Wednesday’s pair are Arnold Moss and Suzanne Cloutier. Back of the Head lady is Merle Oberon. Thursday we have Paul Lukas and Charles Korvin. Coming soon to a theater near you are George Brent and Merle Oberon.
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George Brent and Merle Oberon
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George Brent, Merle Oberon.
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George and Merle make it Temptation!
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George Brent and Merle Oberon together again.
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