Ivy (film)

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Movie
Original title Ivy
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1947
length 99 minutes
Rod
Director Sam Wood
script Charles Bennett
production William Cameron Menzies for Universal Pictures
music Daniele Amfitheatrof
camera Russell Metty
cut Ralph Dawson
occupation

Ivy is a 1947 American film starring Joan Fontaine and directed by Sam Wood . The script is based in part on the murder trial of Madeleine Smith , which rocked English society around 1850, but moved the plot a good sixty years into the future.

action

Ivy Lexton is a thoroughly unscrupulous woman who is ready for anything to escape her marriage to the handsome but poor Jervis and finally get rich. She is having an affair with Dr. Roger Gretorex, who has now completely fallen for her. A visit to the well-known fortune teller Mrs. Thraw promises Ivy the welcome and longed-for acquaintance with a wealthy admirer. A few days later he meets the incredibly wealthy bachelor Miles Rushworth. Ivy quickly succeeds in convincing Miles to give Jervis a well-paid position in his company. At the same time, Ivy tries to find Dr. To get rid of Gretorex, who however swears his eternal love to her. Now convinced that Miles would marry her immediately if she were free, Ivy slowly poisons her husband after he refuses to divorce her. Immediately after his death, Ivy manages through skillful manipulations to suspect Dr. To direct Gretorex. He is charged with murder and sentenced to death. However, his mother has a suspicion as to who is actually responsible for the murder of Jervis Lexton. Together with Inspector Orpington, a few hours before the execution, evidence is found that convicts Ivy of the crime. Roger is released from prison and Ivy, who tries to escape, dies falling into an open elevator shaft.

background

For the main role in the film adaptation of Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes novel The Story of Ivy from 1928, which is closely based on the events surrounding the murder trial against Madeleine Smith , Olivia de Havilland , the sister of Joan Fontaine, was initially intended. De Havilland withdrew from the project at the end of 1946 and the director Sam Wood then engaged Fontaine. The mother of the two actresses, Lillian Fontaine, was seen in the role of Lady Flora.

Joan Fontaine was a major Hollywood star in the 1940s who could charge up to $ 150,000 in salary and at times had his own production company. Her career was mainly based on her appearances in historical romances and literary adaptations such as The Pirate and the Lady , The Orphan of Lowood , I Kiss Your Hand, Madame and Letter from a Stranger .

criticism

The reviews were positive. Variety donated praise for the atmospherically dense implementation of the events

“William Cameron Menzie's production goes off the beaten track and manages to create the desired melodramatic aura. The film sets are small and the actors are shot up close. All actors are good, but always within the framework of the director's basic idea. "

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ see here [1]
  2. ↑ See quote here: Ivy (film)
  3. ^ William Cameron Menzies' production has an off-the-beaten path design that helps generate the melodramatic mood desired. Sets are small and players and settings are lensed from close range. Cast performances are good, but reflect directorial obviousness. "