The Velvet Touch

About The Velvet Touch

At its center is Broadway leading lady Valerie Stanton, who accidentally kills her producer-lover Gordon Dunning during an argument about the direction her career should take. He expects her to sign for his next production, a typical frothy comedy for which he is known, while she wants to accept an offer to star in a revival of Hedda Gabler in order to prove her versatility as an actress. Other characters involved in the plot are Valerie's new beau Michael Morrell, supporting actress Marian Webster, who is accused of committing Valerie's crime, and police Capt. Danbury, who may know more than he's willing to admit.

The dialogue in Walter Reilly's screenplay, adapted from a story by William Mercer and Annabel Ross, is reminiscent of the witty repartee in All About Eve (1950) and Auntie Mame (1958), although it preceded both by several years.

The cast, directed by Jack Gage, includes Rosalind Russell as Valerie Stanton, Leon Ames as Gordon Dunning, Leo Genn as Michael Morrell, Claire Trevor as Marian Webster, and Sydney Greenstreet as Capt. Danbury.