This is my contribution to the Classic Movie Blog Association's Blogathon and the Beast event. Click here for more beastly good reads.
Leave Her to Heaven:
When Beauty Disguises the Beast
In the eternal cinematic battle between good and evil, virtue must always contend with the beast. Now, when the beast looks like these guys, he's not so hard to resist.
But, when the beast looks like this, well, it certainly complicates things. And that's what makes "Leave her to Heaven" so much twisted fun.
As
with the serpent of old, the beast in Ellen Berent (the impossibly gorgeous
Gene Tierney) reveals itself slowly. It takes time for poison to settle in
and work to its full potency, even in the host.
Our
beauty is a predator, and the beast in Ellen is a maniacal, possessive jealousy
that causes her to destroy anyone who threatens her prey's singular fascination
with and devotion to her.
strangers on a train |
off to a happy start.... |
As with all doomed love stories (movie-wise), things get off to a great start. Richard meets the family. It's all so lovely, but there are warning signs. Mother Berent seems resigned to have been the third wheel in her dead husband’s and Ellen’s relationship. Cousin Ruth (a virtuous Jeanne Crain) keeps mom company and kind of fills the emotional space where daughter Ellen should be.
Ellen coolly ditches her attorney newly ex-beau Russell Quinton (Vincent Price) in favor of Richard and announces that she and Richard are to be married. That’s news to Richard, but Ellen’s power is too alluring to overcome. They wed. Ellen’s little paradise seems to be working – she is completely adored by her new husband. But is she?
It's
the word “completely” that causes the beast to rear its ugly head. Richard has other
loves – a disabled younger brother and his career. This makes the beast unhappy
and you can hear the gears clicking in Ellen’s brain – how can she destroy
them?
Richard
loves his home, called Back of the Moon, in Deer Island, Maine. The remote
location is perfect for him to write. Ellen hates the place.
Ellen "helps" Danny with his swimming regimen |
and then watches him drown |
Cousin Ruth: a pretty shoulder to cry on |
before the fall...getting it just right |
Poison comes so naturally to Ellen |
Old flame Russell Quinton grills Ruth. Ellen is dead, but her spirit is in a courtroom painted green with envy |
The
beauty of the film is not only Ellen. The costumes, the color, the settings, all
contribute to a feast for the sense that leaves you rather full like a dinner
where you've had too much to eat. It is all too tasty, all too uncomfortable
and all too deliciously much in a most discomforting yet satisfying way.
As mentioned, Gene Tierney's costumes (designed by her husband Oleg Cassini ) and the various homes featured in the film are simply to die for. Here's a sampling:
The Costumes
notice her initials? |
The Homes
1. The New Mexico Home (my favorite)
2. Back of the Moon (Deer Lake, Maine)
3. The Bar Harbor Maine House
15 comments:
Tierney as a psychopath is absolutely delicious and your cheeky take on Leave Her to Heaven is not only a perfect submission to the blogathon but a hoot to read. Her inner beast certainly does rear its ugly head, with her poisonous obsession. Thanks so much for delivering Ellen Berent to CMBA’s door. Cheers, Joey
Great choice! Ellen is surely a beast in absolutely gorgeous clothing. I enjoyed revisiting this classic with you -- and loved the pics of Ellen's wardrobes and the gorgeous set design!
-- Karen
Great descriptions. Loved your humor, and you're so right about the clothes and sets. I do have a bit of sympathy for her character--besides the crimes, of course. All the poor girl wants is some intimacy with her husband now and then. Even on her honeymoon, he avoids any time with her, prefers goofing off with his brother, and invites his IN-LAWS along. Kinda tough for a woman as sensual as she is.
Joey - thanks for stopping by. She sure is hard to resist, isn't she. I mean, you can't blame Cornel Wilde.
Karen -it really is a feast for the eyes. Almost too beautiful.
Leah - well yeah, but maybe he felt he needed the cover.
You make a good point about all the beauty in a story with such ugliness.
Gene Tierney is SO good in this film. And you're right about Cornel Wilde – he's good, but his role could easily be filled by someone else, unfortunately for him.
Hi Ruth. She was such a fine actress. it was easy to overlook her talent when blinded by her beauty.
Fantastic analysis! Sometimes evil disguises as beauty, and this is exactly when it's harder to say no to it. And I had forgotten how cool the costumes in this movie are.
Greetings!
Le
This was such a great read, I've only seen Leave Her to Heaven once but this is making me want to rewatch!
Hi Le. Thanks for stopping by. I am always blow away by the absolute beauty of this film - the people, the clothes, the settings...and such an ugly story.
Thanks, Jess. It's a beautiful, beastly delight!
Ellen is surrounded by beauty, which is everywhere in this fascinating movie. Really enjoyed your deeper look at it, and love seeing the houses get their own showcase! The whole movie's design and gorgeous color make it a visual feast, and of course Tierney the cherry on top.
Got to see it in nitrate at TCMFF years ago, the natural lighted scenes really get that nitrate glow, and it was bliss.
Lesley/secondsightcinema.com (it insists on using my google account, which I never do...)
Hi Lesley. Many thanks for the kind comments and for stopping by. I'll bet this film was an almost too-gorgeous treat for the senses on the big screen.
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