Leave Her to Heaven
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Movie Reviews of Leave Her to Heaven
Movie Review: Great Technicolor Horror
Summary: 5 Stars
Called trashy melodrama by some critics, "Leave Her to Heaven," the story of a demented woman and the husband who becomes trapped in her web of possession, insanity, and murder, is trash at its zenith, a prime example of 1940s studio opulence. This film noir, told in extended flashback as the husband returns home from an unjust prison term, is unusual in that it is in vibrant Technicolor rather than the genre's usual black-and-white. But the contrast between visual brilliance and psychosis enhances the horror. In her autobiography, Gene Tierney wrote that she had wanted to play Ellen Berent ever since she read Ben Ames Williams's novel. She worked well with John Stahl, and "blossomed under his direction." Besides the sets at Twentieth Century-Fox, filming was done on location in Arizona, northern California, and Georgia. The real star of the film may be Leon Shamroy's Technicolor cinematography, which earned the picture its only Academy Award and is still beautiful more than sixty years later.
The recent Fox Studio Classics DVD release of "Leave Her to Heaven" contains an excellent transfer of the restored film, relevant contemporary newsreels, a restoration comparison, and commentary by supporting actor Darryl Hickman and critic Richard Schickel. Both Hickman and Schickel offer interesting insights, but each is sometimes condescending toward the acting talents of Tierney, Cornel Wilde, and particularly Jeanne Crain. Inexplicably and inexcusably, Schickel repeatedly pronounces director Stahl's name "Sphal."
Movie Review: You led me to believe I married you! (recommended)
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched this movie three times within the first month it was received. I kept telling friends, "Come over, you have to see this film!" It instantly became a classic favorite. Others purchased the DVD and it became the showpiece of entertainment for their guests.
Deciding to wed an impulsive woman engaged to another man (or at least having her lead you to believe it was your decision) may not seem like such a bad deal when she is beautiful and wealthy. However, jealousy is rottenness to the bones -- particularly when its ugliness is directed toward family who wish to share the affection of a compulsive bride's new prize. Anti-social behavior and compulsive personality disorder are taken to their highest levels of obsession in Gene Tierney's greatest role. (She arguably outdoes her performance in LAURA!) The chilling LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN story (a la BAD SEED) overshadows subdued performances by most co-stars. The title suggests no one on earth can judge or understand Ellen. The excellently restored digital transfer heightens the viewing enjoyment of this Studio Classic -- though in some scenes the color intensity surpasses the reality of original cinematography.
Movie quote: "There's nothing wrong with Ellen. It's just that she loves too much."
Movie Review: A True
Summary: 5 Stars
VHS Version: If you've ever wondered what all the fuss about Gene Tierney was about, try this movie on for size. In it, she plays Ellen Berent, a possessively jealous woman who doesn't want to share her new husband, Richard Harland, played by the completely un-sexual Cornel Wilde, with *anyone*. "There's nothing wrong with Ellen. She just *loves* too much," says her mother. But there is most definitely something wrong with Ellen, and she makes that evident very early on. She is possesive, jealous and completely selfish, demanding that all her new husband's attention be on her, and god help whomever gets in the way of that. It is a love story that is also a thriller, and it is shot in gorgeous Technicolor, which serves Miss Tierney *very* well. If fact, her entire *look* throughout this whole movie is spectacular, as she models one great sportswear and lounging outfit after another. She is the epitome of chic in this movie, even in the scene which we'll call "Tragedy In A Row Boat". She is perfectly accessorized and when she casually slips on her cat-eye sunglasses before the tragedy occurs, she is stunning. And isn't that what's most important in movies like this? Accessorizing all this action are the breathtaking locations, with an incredibly stylish (still) home on the range in New Mexico and their picturesque cottage on Back of the Moon Bay in Maine, which is so gorgeous it looks like a set, but it's not.Movie Review: It's good to be beautiful if you're CRIMINALLY INSANE!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Hapless Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) gets eaten alive by the criminally insane Ellen Berend (Gene Tierney). Children, brothers, family and friends suffer collateral damage. Family knows (something about an "obsessive" love for her father...be afraid!), but doesn't warn him. Seems like that could have been grounds for a lawsuit of some kind. Red flags galore but he is smitten. When the swelling subsides and blood returns to his brain he realizes that something is Not Right. He packs his bags and runs off, as does the sister. Ellen puts two and two together and reaches up, from the grave I might add, to continue her rampage of destruction. Vincent Price turns up as the jilted fiance ("danger! danger!") and to badger the nice sister on the witness stand so mercilessly in the courtroom scene that I almost jumped up and confessed just to save her. Since Richard is defended by Leutenant Tragg (Ray Collins) you know he's going down whether he is really guilty or not. But all is well and Richard ends up with the nice sister.
OK where to begin. This is an excellent, entertaining rip snorting soap opera, but it is once again not a classic noir. I don't know why every movie made between 1940 and 1955 with a dour world view is classified as a "noir". That aside, this movie is prime entertainment. I recommend it.
Movie Review: JEALOUSY..the worst deadly sin...
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're reading this, you already know what a great and devastating film this is.Gene Tierney received her only Oscar nomination (1945), and her performance was so complete that some of her friends stopped talking to her.Cornel Wilde received an Oscar nomination for his first film, "A Song to Remember" (1945; where he played Frederic Chopin); I'm only assuming this was his second film. He's great! Also great is Jeanne Crain, in one of her first films. This is a real-life horror film, and I'm at a loss to think of such an evil character today in film, not counting slasher films. Psychological terror is well examined, and director John M. Stahl presents it simply and completely. Oscar-winning color photography by Leon Shamroy shows gorgeous vistas of Maine & New Mexico, and the Oscar-nominated sets of Lyle Wheeler & Maurice Ranford were so comfortable and natural that you wanted to be there; cozy and natural. The involved novel of Ben Ames Williams was given an exemplary adatation by Jo Swerling. This is, indeed, one of the major films of the 40's. One that scares me, because I know people like this.I think we all do. Scary, huh?