Leave Her To Heaven 1945

This fantastic films stars Gene Tierney and Cornel Wilde. There is enough lust, deception, and evilness to keep any oldie film lover very happy. Add amazing 40's outfits, production design, and the great outdoors, and you have a winning film!

Cornel Wilde plays Richard, a handsome novelist who is about to meet his next love. Gene is Ellen, who is riding the train for a holiday. Well, sort of. Her dad that she idolizes just died, and she is going up to scatter his ashes...and a holiday. Two birds, one stone. 

Before Ellen has the time to flirt, she insults Richard's book, stares at him like a freak, and tells her he looks like her dad. Nothing like a first impression.

How amazing is this train car? Dusty green walls, art deco arm chairs, and a monochromatic lamp. Set decorators Thomas Little and Ernest Lansing do it again!

Turns out Ellen's family friend also has another guest, no other than Richard. Oh goody! Richard also meets mother and hottie adopted sister Ruth played by Jeanne Crain.

Full length white fur? Where are your funeral blacks, Gene?

 Before you know it, Ellen is in love. Problem #1 is that she is already engaged. She dumps that fool the curb. Problem #2 is Richard hasn't exactly asked her out on a date let alone to marry. So she goes ahead an announces their plans to get hitched to the family. Done.

Richard thinks Ellen is pretty swell so he goes with it. Ellen learns Richard has a kid bother, Danny, who is ill and can't walk, or as Ellen puts it, "a cripple". Richard owns some land called "Back of the Moon" and Ellen decides to bring Danny with them thinking it will bring her and Richard closer.

 

Silk blouse and high wasited salmon slacks courtesy of costume designer Kay Nelson. 

Soon Ellen realizes she has no time alone with her man. It's annoying how Danny (who can walk now) is always around. She has no privacy with her husband. Poor Ellen. She tries to get Danny to go away but it doesn't work. Before you know it Richard has invited her family over for a stay. Ellen is pissed.

When her family finally leaves (early of course since Ellen pitched a fit) she tries to get Danny to go along with them for a few weeks so she can have some sexy time with Richard. Danny objects so Ellen thinks of a better plan.

Danny and Ellen go out on the lake one day as Danny is trying to swim across for bragging rights. Things go wrong and Ellen watches as Danny cries for help. An iconic scene not only for the beautiful backdrops of location filming but the intensity as we witness how far someone will go to get what they want. 

To help or not to help...hmmm...

Before you know it Ellen is knocked up and makes it very clear it's only to make Richard happy. She notices her sister getting chummy with her man and gets mad when they go shopping for baby stuff without her. Talk about territorial!

Ellen tells Ruth that she wishes she didn't have this fetus so that she could spend more time with Richard and to back off her husband!

Ruth leaves the room and Ellen has a terrible "accident" down the stairs. 

When all of Ellen's plans go wrong and Richard is still not giving her the obsessive attention she craves there is not much left to do but to off herself. Can she go through with it? What will happen to Richard? Will Ruth swoop in if she's out of the picture? Only one way to find out!

Mixing poison always goes best with embroidered monogrammed towels. 

This film is full of deception, murder, and style. Rita Hayworth was intended for the role but turned it down. I think Gene plays the part beautifully. She is gorgeous in this film even though she is evil. Critics agreed as she was nominated for an Oscar for this role. 

(She was beat out by Joan Crawford for Mildred Pierce)