Delmer Daves wrote and directed this engrossing film about a long-hidden secret in the woods haunting a young farm girl’s happiness and future. Beautiful cinematography from Bery Glennon and an atmospheric score from Miklos Rozsa set a very special mood as young rural love struggles against buried secrets in the woods.

Daves does an excellent job balancing the tender romance of a lonely young girl with a noir drama of stark intensity. Allene Roberts stands out as the sweet young girl trying to blossom, giving a memorable performance. Lon McCallister is also quite good as the young farm boy who comes to slowly care for her against his shallow but sultry girlfriend’s (Julie London) wishes. The centerpiece of the film is an ominous red house deep in the woods that holds a paralyzing fear for Edward G. Robinson. Sort of a cross between Our Town and The Strange Love of Martha Ivers in mood, it all works somehow, creating a memorable film experience.

Daves captures both the sweetness and beauty of country life using Glennon’s camera and a lovely score by Rozsa to frame young Meg. Allene Roberts is the real star of this film despite fine performances from screen veterans like Robinson and Judith Anderson. She gives her character depth and sweetness that wins over the viewer, who hopes that it is enough to win over Nath (Lon McCallister).

Pete Morgan (Edward G. Robinson) hires Nath on as help to Meg’s delight, but soon Pete’s strange and paranoid behavior regarding the woods intrudes on all their lives. Only his sister, Ellen (Judith Anderson) knows the truth, and she isn’t talking. Anderson is fine as a woman who has sacrificed any happiness she might once have had with the town doctor to stay on the farm with her brother and help raise the adopted Meg. Warnings and even threats from Pete about the woods and the red house only heighten the curiosity of Nath and Meg, and of course the viewer.

A rural atmosphere and innocent romance complicated by a dark mystery make for engrossing viewing. Julie London is good as Nath’s shallow and fickle girlfriend, lured by the danger of Teller (Rory Calhoun), the guy Pete has hired to keep everyone away from the red house and those ominous woods that scream.

Fine performances, good direction, and a very special mood augment a good story. Allene Roberts is wonderful here and it is her performance as the sweet Meg viewers will remember most. A forgotten classic. ( )