In her Academy Award nominated Best Actress role, Gene Tierney plays Ellen Berent, a beautiful but jealous woman who wants to completely control her husband-writer, Richard Harland (Cornell Wilde). Richard is busy writing novels and does not give his wife the time she wants. But there are more problems when his invalid brother Danny played by Darryl Hickman as a boy comes to live with them. Then his mother-in-law (Mary Phillips) comes for a visit with a cousin Ruth Berent (Jeanne Crain) who lives with her. Ellen is outraged at all these intrusions, and makes no secret of it. But the first inkling that we have into her mental stability is when she allows Danny to drown in the lake near their Georgian cabin. Then there are more clues that mushroom. We watch as one by one she plots to get rid of them in one way or another. Even her pregnancy will be an intrusion into her marriage. With four Academy Award nominations and one win--Best Cinematography, this 1945 movie was also nominated for Best Sound and Best Art Direction. Beautifully photographed and intriguing to watch, we are asounded at the climax which includes a court appearance by Russell Quinton (Vincent Price),the boyfriend jilted by Ellen when she married Richard. This is a movie without comparison to any other that I know of. By the way, the title of the movie comes from "Hamlet," where Hamlet's father's ghost tells Hamlet not to hate his mother for having an affair with his brother and plotting his murder.Read full review
"Leave Her to Heaven" is solid Film Noir graced by an exquisite performance by Gene Tierney. It may look like a romance, but in the end, it's anything but. Dark and packed with a few tasty twists, this is an unforgettable classic.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
great enhancement of this 1945 film noir classic, with the knock your socks off gorgeous Gene Tierney, and the devestatingly handsome Cornel Wilde. wonderful color, well thought dialog, great scenery-New Mexico and Maine- classic boy meets girl, girl has a hidden secret which turns ugly for both of them. Jeanne Crain has a small but very involved role in what becomes a triangle with only one way out. if you like the old classics this is one to have on your shelf- you won't be dissapointed.
Gene Tierney plays a beautiful but self-centered woman who wants all the attention, all the time. If this film were re-made today, they would probably turn it into a horror movie, with Ellen (Tierney) as an obviously vicious monster. As it stands, LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN is more subtle, and the audience can empathize with Ellen's feelings even as they are appalled by her actions. Ellen is a lot like Scarlett O'Hara until she takes her ambitions too far. A fascinating, accurate portrait of a sociopath. If you like THE BAD SEED and wonder what a grown-up Rhoda would be like, watch this film.
Gene Tierney gives an excellent performance. Great supporting cast.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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