Whirlpool (1949)

Ann Sutton is caught shoplifting at a Los Angeles department store. Witnessing her being detained by the store's security and management, David Korvo, recognizing that Ann is the wife of renowned and well off psychoanalyst Dr. William Sutton, is able to convince them to release her without charge in it being the best for all concerned. Part of David's argument is that Ann is obviously a kleptomaniac and thus would benefit more from treatment than the public humiliation of being charged and/or incarcerated. Ann, who has been able to hide her compulsion to steal from Bill, becomes even more anxious in trying to hide this latest incident from him, especially in believing that David's motive in helping her is blackmail. A purveyor of the mystic arts, David, who is able to help Ann with her insomnia, another manifestation of emotional problems, through hypnosis, the sleep deprivation which in turn has made her even more anxious, is able to convince her that blackmail is the farthest thing from his mind and only wants to help her, she willing to accept that help if only in dealing with the insomnia. What Ann is unaware of is that David does have a more nefarious intent related to one of Bill's patients, Theresa Randolph. David's plan places Ann's life at risk in a situation Bill, not even in his professional capacity and love for his wife, may be able to help her get out from under.