The Pine Cliff Paranoia. James V. Kern directed The Second Woman (also known as Ellen), with a script from Mort Briskin and Robert Smith. It features Robert Young, Betsy Drake, John Sutton, Florence Bates, Morris Carnovsky, and Henry O’Neil. Joseph Nussbaum composed the music, and Hal Mohr was in charge of cinematography. Jeff Cohalan (Young) is a man struggling after his fiancée died unexpectedly in a car accident; he now lives a solitary existence at Hilltop House, which he designed for her. His life gains some brightness when Ellen Foster (Drake) enters the picture, as he finds himself drawn to her. However, misfortune consistently follows him, something that doesn't escape Ellen’s notice. She begins to wonder if Jeff is suffering from paranoia or if there’s a more sinister plot at work involving people outside of his circle… The Coast of Kings. If you can overlook the influence of films like Gaslight and Rebecca, Kern’s movie does offer some rewards within the gothic noir genre. The setting—a modern house—is disappointing because it clashes with the coastal feel that comes from filming in Carmel-On-Sea, but otherwise there's a compelling mystery unfolding throughout. As Jeff Cohalan experiences increasingly strange incidents of bad luck, Kern demonstrates a good sense of timing, building suspense and leading to a satisfactory resolution. Vivian, Vivian, Vivian… Young and Drake create an inevitable romantic connection, and they are enjoyable together; Drake especially delivers a female character with intelligence and depth. John Sutton provides some reliably unpleasant behavior, while Bates and O’Neil offer solid supporting performances from older characters. Mohr’s (Bullets or Ballets/The Lineup) cinematography is essential to the film's success, consistently aligning with its psychological elements. His lighting choices make it feel more substantial than its budget might suggest. A story involving memory problems, a pet, depression, undesirable property, villains, and romance is effectively masked by an unsettling coastal atmosphere and music from Tchaikovsky! 7/10

Source on TMDB