Angel Face

Angel Face is a 1953 American film noir directed by Otto Preminger, starring Robert Mitchum and Jean Simmons, and featuring Leon Ames and Barbara O'Neil. It was filmed on location in Beverly Hills, California. Plot Frank Jessup is an ambulance driver who dreams of running his own repair shop for sportscars. One evening, while responding to an emergency call at a big, posh estate, he meets beautiful heiress Diane Tremayne. After a series of meetings that seemingly happen by chance - Diane deliberately shows up where Frank is - a relationship ensues. As a result, Frank alienates his girlfriend, Mary Wilton. When the Tremayne family offers Frank a job as chauffeur, with his own rooms on the estate, he accepts. One afternoon, as Diane's father and stepmother start their car to drive to town, their vehicle mysteriously reverses when geared to drive forward. It careens backwards down a steep cliff, killing both occupants. As Diane is the sole heir to their fortune, she comes under suspicion for murder. Frank is also suspected of having tampered with the vehicle's transmission. Fred Barrett, their defense attorney, persuades them to marry to curry the jury's favor. Frank is very reluctant to do this but relents.