Undercurrent (1946)

What Genre Is It?

Noir/Thriller

Why Watch Undercurrent?

Katherine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Marjorie Main, and Edmund Gwenn star in this thrilling noir.

Ann Hamilton (Katherine Hepburn) adores her father (Edmund Gwenn) and enjoys helping him with his work. She is happy with her single life until one night when Alan Garroway (Robert Taylor) comes to see her father about a business venture. Suddenly, romance blossoms, and before long, Ann agrees to marry Alan.

The newlywed couple set off for their home in Washington, D.C. Ann’s life seems perfect at first. Until, Alan pushes her in front of his society without first allowing her to prepare. She comes across as a young, naïve woman of a different social class who is not familiar with the conventions of high society. Ann and Alan’s marital bliss is further pushed to the test when Ann discovers Alan has kept his brother a secret from her.

As if an unforeseen force is urging her to investigate the sibling situation, Ann is handed a book by a bookbinder who was supposedly commissioned by Mr. Garroway to repair a treasured book of poems. She opens the book of poetry and is enchanted. As a result, Ann happily gives the book to her husband. However, instead of a fond thank you, she receives a threatening reaction. The book did not belong to her husband, Alan Garroway, but to his forgotten brother, Michael Garroway. Ann continues to question why her husband’s brother has caused such bitter resentment? What happened between the two siblings? Is her husband as wonderful as she first thought? Would her husband result to murder if he disliked someone? After all, where is Alan’s brother?

Behind the Scenes Fun

Katherine Hepburn does a marvelous job playing the captivated wife who finds herself in a mysterious, deadly relationship. Robert Taylor also hypnotizes the audience with his character development—starting as an adoring husband and transitioning into a sinister, mysterious figure we no longer know.

Memorable Quote

“Stop shoving that book at me! Can’t you see I don’t want to discuss it! Don’t you know by now who’s book it is, don’t ya? Throwing it at me. Even memorizing the poem he marked. I told you it wasn’t my book. I told you that!”   

~Alan Garroway