Spinster scientist Ann Hamilton (Katharine Hepburn) is taken with famed chemical tycoon Alan Garroway (Robert Taylor). Her father sells him the rights to a chemical compound. Ann marries Alan but is concerned about fitting into his world of wealth and power. Alan tells her about his no-good hated brother Michael (Robert Mitchum) but there is more to the story.Hepburn sells the heck out of the role. She's enchanting. There is nobody like her. Veteran actor Robert Taylor is nowhere near her iconic level. He's fine but I can't help but wish for Robert Mitchum in the role. It's early in his career but he's already a sought after rising star. Mike should be a more meek character who could be pushed over by his more dominating brother Alan. Mitchum is not really that meek. It's understandable to have the bigger role given to the more experienced actor. What it could have been is epic. What it turns out is a solid noir from Vincente Minnelli who would gain more fame from musicals later on.

I generally only write reviews when I can be positive — but really, when you've included such greats as Robert Taylor, Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum, couldn't someone have found a better, less implausible script? Yes, Dana Andrews did fall in love with Laura before meeting her in that wonderful film named after that great character. But as Laura, Gene Tierney had enough personality and charisma to pull it off. While I normally admire Robert Mitchum's wonderful acting skills, in this movie, Mitchum's character had no pizazz whatsoever — nada, zilch, nothing. Okay, so maybe Robert Taylor's character was a murderous thief, but at least you could stay awake when he opened his mouth. And I've never seen Hepburn appear so lackluster. After her performances in African Queen and Philadelphia Story, what a disappointment. It's generally okay when movies stretch our credulity IF there are other aspects to compensate — for example, leg-slapping hilarity or intensely moving drama, but to me, Undercurrent just comes across as lame and foolish. My favorite part is that no less than three characters in the movie can play the same song on the piano. And Brahms Symphony No. 3 isn't exactly chopsticks. Don't waste your evening.

Pure melodrama (not noir) and not very good at that. Looks great, not satisfying cinematically. I'm shaking my head at all the people saying Mitchum was cast against type. This early in his career, he didn't really have a type.Totally not believable that Hepner's character goes from professional, competent and self-assured to the frightened, clingy female the plot requires of her.It drags, it's predictable, and it's bloated and boring. Bleah! With this cast, I was wondering why I'd never heard of it before. Now I know. Save yourself!

... after Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, to name only two, was this piece of cheese which does no one any favors. Strangely for Minnelli the construction is all over the place, for example, after establishing the close relationship between father-daughter Edmund Gwenn and Kathering Hepburn (reprising their relationship from Sylvia Scarlett) Gwenn virtually disappears leaving Hepburn isolated which is fine in terms of the plot but unrealistic in real life. Similarly Robert Taylor is introduced as a hard-headed successful businessman, hardly the kind of person to fall for an insecure wallflower. The only one required to do any real acting is Robert Mitchum, cast against type as a thoroughly decent man who values poetry and composition - the kind of part Leslie Howerd played in The Petrified Forest. Mitchum brings it off to a fare-thee-well but that's about the best you can give it.