A socialite marries a prominent novelist, which spurs a violent, obsessive, and dangerous jealousy in her.
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Reviews
CinemaSerf
7
By CinemaSerf
Yikes, talk about an internecine plot! This is certainly a story that requires concentration as the machinations of "Ellen" (Gene Tierney) take their toll on just about everyone around her. She meets the young writer "Richard" (Cornel Wilde) on a train when he encounters this enigmatic young woman who happens to be reading his latest novel. A whirlwind romance ensues that sees her dump her fianceé, marry "Richard" and return to his cottage along with his crippled brother "Danny" (Darryl Hickman). The green eyed monster soon rears it's ugly head - "Ellen" isn't the sharing type, and when "Danny" is inexplicably drowned they move home, she has a miscarriage and then they split up. Still determined, "Ellen" plots a dastardly scheme to ensure that his new friend "Ruth" (Jeanne Crain) ends up in the electric chair. The plot is sophisticated and presented in a well-paced and intriguing fashion with Wilde, Crain and especially Tierney on top form delivering a tightly written adaptation of Ben Ames Williams' cleverly constructed story of lust, envy and manipulation. It's interesting to see Cornel Wilde take on a more substantial role. He still has that gleam in his eye but he takes to the grittier part of his role convincingly. The always reliable Alfred Newman supplies a score that also chips in well as the denouement is anything but straightforward. Rarely seen nowadays, but certainly well worth sitting down for.
griggs79
4
By griggs79
_Leave Her to Heaven_ is, without a doubt, the least exciting and fun noir I've watched this Noirvember so far. In a genre that typically brims with tension and intrigue, this film feels practically void of pulse – almost like it's trying to lull you to sleep instead of keeping you on edge. Not sure what's more disappointing: the absence of thrills or the flat, listless atmosphere!
