David finally realizes he must turn himself in and promises to Lee he will lead a better life. It looks like Elsner might be found innocent, but the stress causes him to have a fatal heart attack. Eventually he returns home, where he finds his parents entertaining his father Howard's law partner, Donald Muir, and Art's mother Sybil, their neighbor. Read more about The Family Secret (1951 Film): Plot, Cast. Howard Clark proves a key eyewitness to be a convicted perjurer. After accidentally killing his best friend, Art Bradley, in self-defense outside of a tavern, law student David Clark flees the scene of the crime. The Family Secret is a 1951 crime drama film directed by Henry Levin. He has always been irresponsible, which is why secretary Lee Pearson keeps resisting David's romantic attentions, even though she is attracted to him. David sits by his father's and the defendant's side at the trial. When his son accidentally kills someone, a lawyer must defend the man wrongly charged with the murder. Marie Elsner comes to Howard Clark, asking that he represent her husband in court. Elsner is a bookie to whom the dead man owed a debt. The next morning, Howard expects his son to explain what happened to district attorney Redman, but instead David merely asks the DA if he can be of any help after another man, Joe Elsner, is arrested. He flees, but later confesses to his father, Howard, a lawyer.
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Law student David Clark kills best friend Art Bradley in self-defense after an argument.