Whirlpool (1950): Cast & Plot
Whirlpool is a 1950 crime thriller directed by Otto Preminger, starring Richard Conte as Dr. William 'Bill' Sutton, Gene Tierney and José Ferrer. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Otto Preminger
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Whirlpool About?
The premise of Whirlpool without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
She is the wife of a psychoanalyst who becomes the target of a deceitful self‑styled hypnotist after he discovers her habit of shoplifting. When a former patient of the charlatan, now under the care of the real doctor, is found murdered with her still at the scene, all evidence points to her, forcing her to confront the consequences of her night‑time actions tomorrow.
Whirlpool Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- hypnotist
- psychiatrist
- kleptomaniac
- alibi
- deception
- psychic
- memory
- murder
- insomnia
- astrology
- false accusation
- mind control
+38 more Show fewer
- investigation
- based on novel
- hypnotism
- woman
- preminger and tierney
- hypnotized woman
- wilshire store
- woman fainting
- caught shoplifting
- cocktail party
- mermaid pin
- post hypnotic suggestion
- based on a guy endore novel
- woman strangled
- home vault
- voice recording
- record
- framed for murder
- finger print match
- unfinished hand written note
- con man
- martini
- gun in glove compartment
- held at gunpoint
- keeping secrets
- close up of eyes
- trail of blood
- fingerprints
- fedora
- tearing up a check
- confession of a crime
- trench coat
- gun stuck in a coat pocket
- hypnotized
- painted portrait
- woman in jail
- bleeding to death
- woman sits on a man's lap
Whirlpool Cast & Characters
Richard Conte leads the cast as Dr. William 'Bill' Sutton, with Gene Tierney as Ann Sutton and José Ferrer as David Korvo. Directed by Otto Preminger; 40 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Otto Preminger
- Richard Conte as Dr. William 'Bill' Sutton
- Gene Tierney as Ann Sutton
-
José Ferrer as David Korvo - Barbara O'Neil as Theresa "Terry" Randolph
Also Starring in Whirlpool
· 36 more- Myrtle Anderson Ann's Maid (uncredited)
- Eduard Franz Martin Avery
- Charles Bickford Lt. James Colton
- Roger Moore Fingerprint Man (uncredited)
- Fortunio Bonanova Feruccio di Ravallo
- Lawrence Dobkin Dr. Wayne
- Harold Miller Party Guest (uncredited)
- Eddie Dunn Watchman (uncredited)
- Jay Eaton Minor Role (uncredited)
- Oliver Cross Minor Role (uncredited)
- Robert Foulk Policeman Andy (uncredited)
- Ruth Clifford Nurse Eliott (uncredited)
- Wanda Perry Miss Wilson (uncredited)
- Clancy Cooper First Policeman (uncredited)
- Ian Macdonald Hogan - Store Detective (uncredited)
- Howard Negley Gordon (uncredited)
Show all 40 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Larry Keating Mr. Simms (uncredited)
- Lovyss Bradley Nurse (uncredited)
- Alex Gerry Dr. Peter Duval (uncredited)
- Gail Bonney Minor Role (uncredited)
- Ruth Lee Miss Hall (uncredited)
- Helen Westcott Simms' Secretary (uncredited)
- Mauritz Hugo Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- Johnny Duncan Soldier (uncredited)
- Charles Flynn Policeman (uncredited)
- Constance Collier Tina Cosgrove
- Ted Jordan Harry (uncredited)
- Sally Forrest Minor Role (uncredited)
- Joyce Mackenzie Daisy - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- Margaret Brayton Policewoman (uncredited)
- Randy Stuart Miss Landau (uncredited)
- Nancy Valentine Taffy Lou (uncredited)
- Sue Carlton Elevator Girl (uncredited)
- Joan Dix Minor Role (uncredited)
- John Trebach Freddie (uncredited)
- Anitra Sparrow Miss Landon (uncredited)
More from Otto Preminger
More films directed by Otto Preminger, best-rated first: Anatomy of a Murder, Bunny Lake Is Missing, The Man with the Golden Arm and Carmen Jones.
Whirlpool Plot Summary
What happens in Whirlpool from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ann Sutton, Gene Tierney, the wife of Richard Conte Dr. William Sutton, a successful psychoanalyst, is caught shoplifting in an upscale Los Angeles department store and loses consciousness when apprehended. She is saved from scandal by the smooth-talking hypnotist David Korvo, Jos Ferrer, who persuades the store officials to put the mermaid pin she stole on her credit account and not prosecute. Korvo pressures Ann into coming to lunch with him, and she is relieved when, instead of accepting the blackmail payment she thinks he is after, he tears up her check and the store record of her shoplifting, and promises to help her.
Full summary
The whole story of Whirlpool, scene by scene
Whirlpool Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Whirlpool.
How Well Do You Know Whirlpool?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the profession of Ann Sutton’s husband, Dr. William Sutton?
Cars in Whirlpool
4 cars on screen, including the 1949 Ford Custom and the 1946 Ford Super De Luxe.
-
1949 Ford Custom Minor role -
1946 Ford Super De Luxe Minor role -
1946 Mercury Eight Minor role -
1937 Dodge Touring Sedan Background role
Whirlpool Also Known As
11 alternative titles, including “Il segreto di una donna” and “Le mystérieux docteur Korvo”.
- Also known as
-
- Il segreto di una donna
- Le mystérieux docteur Korvo
- Vorágine
- Örvény
- A Ladra
- Wir
- Ο Γκρεμός
- 旋涡
- گرداب
- 소용돌이
- Damen bedyrar
Seen Whirlpool?
Movies Like Whirlpool
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Whirlpool, Whirlpool and Whirlpool.
Whirlpool FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Whirlpool, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Whirlpool?
Whirlpool runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Whirlpool released?
Whirlpool was released on January 13, 1950.
Who directed Whirlpool?
Whirlpool was directed by Otto Preminger.
More films by Otto Preminger Who is in the cast of Whirlpool?
Whirlpool stars Richard Conte as Dr. William 'Bill' Sutton, Gene Tierney as Ann Sutton and José Ferrer as David Korvo, among 40 credited actors.
Does Whirlpool have a post-credit scene?
No. Whirlpool has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
