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Drama thriller

The Madonna’s Secret (1946): Cast & Plot

The Madonna’s Secret (1946) movie poster

The Madonna’s Secret is a 1946 drama thriller directed by Wilhelm Thiele, starring Edward Ashley as John Earl, Francis Lederer and Ann Rutherford. It runs 1 hour 16 minutes.

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The Madonna’s Secret (1946) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 16m (76 min)
Director
Wilhelm Thiele
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Madonna’s Secret About?

The premise of The Madonna’s Secret without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

An updated take on Ulmer’s 1944 Bluebeard, the drama relocates the tale to modern New York. An eccentric Parisian painter flees a controversy surrounding his art and sets up a studio in the city, but his plans unravel when the model who has posed for every one of his canvases is found floating dead in the Seine, thrusting him into a new mystery.

The Madonna’s Secret Themes & Keywords

· 4 tags
  • artist
  • death of sister
  • model
  • murder
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Cast & crew

The Madonna’s Secret Cast & Characters

Edward Ashley leads the cast as John Earl, with Francis Lederer as James Harlan Corbin and Ann Rutherford as Linda 'Morgan' North. Directed by Wilhelm Thiele; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Madonna’s Secret

· 9 more
From the director

More from Wilhelm Thiele

More films directed by Wilhelm Thiele: Tarzan’s Desert Mystery, Tarzan Triumphs, The Ghost Comes Home and Beg, Borrow or Steal.

Full filmography
Plot

The Madonna’s Secret Plot Summary

What happens in The Madonna’s Secret from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In an art gallery, drama critic John Earl, Edward Ashley, is unexpectedly drawn to a portrait of a striking woman painted by James Harlan Corbin, Francis Lederer. The gallery owner explains that the image is the artist’s sole model and not for sale. Earl leaves intrigued but puzzled, unable to place a name to the face he cannot forget. Back at his office, the memory lingers: the face feels familiar, yet the name remains elusive.

Full summary

The whole story of The Madonna’s Secret, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Madonna’s Secret?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the profession of John Earl, the character who first sees the mysterious portrait?

Seen The Madonna’s Secret?

FAQ

The Madonna’s Secret FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Madonna’s Secret, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Madonna’s Secret?

The Madonna’s Secret runs 1 hour 16 minutes (76 minutes).

When was The Madonna’s Secret released?

The Madonna’s Secret was released on February 16, 1946.

Who directed The Madonna’s Secret?

The Madonna’s Secret was directed by Wilhelm Thiele.

More films by Wilhelm Thiele

Who is in the cast of The Madonna’s Secret?

The Madonna’s Secret stars Edward Ashley as John Earl, Francis Lederer as James Harlan Corbin and Ann Rutherford as Linda 'Morgan' North, among 13 credited actors.

Does The Madonna’s Secret have a post-credit scene?

No. The Madonna’s Secret has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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