None of the characters is entirely likable, but the cast, headed by Gene Tierney, Glenn Ford and Ethel Barrymore, makes the tale believable.

A grotesquely overcivilized Western larded with small talk about decency and indecency, peace of mind, kindness.

The predictable feel-good melodrama is watchable because of Ford and Tierney.

The Convict Conundrum. The Secret of Convict Lake is directed by Michael Gordon and collectively written by Anna Hunger, Jack Pollexfen, Oscar Saul and Victor Trivas. It stars Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney, Ethel Barrymore, Zachary Scott, Ann Dvorak, Barbara Bates, Cyril Cusack, Richard Hylton, Helen Westcott, and Jeanette Nolan. Music is by Sol Kaplan and cinematography by Leo Tover. I came here to kill one man. I don't mind killing a couple of others if I have to. It's winter time here at Diablo Lake, and the five convicts who have survived the escape find themselves holed up in a remote village. Their reasons for being there differ, more notable though is that the men of the village are away prospecting, meaning the village is only currently populated by women. It's a fine bubbling broth of scenarios, each convict is different, ranging from unstable psycho type, alpha male, twitchy youngster, simpleton and on to the calm likeable one who doesn't appear to belong in this company. So with the reasons for the men being here established, narrative then jostles with the inner fighting of the convicts, and the various emotional strands of the women folk. Suffice to say there is sexual tensions, mistrust, misrule, macho posturing and of course secrets to be born out. Violence is sporadic but potent upon arrivals (one instance especially grabs you by the throat), and with the myster…