It would be impossible to watch "Leave Her To Heaven" without being struck by some of the stark contrasts which it contains. Its very dark story is depicted in glorious Technicolor, its main character appears to be beautiful and sophisticated but is actually evil hearted and capable of great cruelty. One of the many stunningly beautiful exterior locations is used as the setting for a crime which is both shocking and heinous and similarly an act of extreme wickedness is perpetrated in one of the movie's wonderfully opulent interior scenes.
"Leave Her To Heaven" is a veritable feast of colour, costumes and drama and makes a great visual impact right from the start. Bearing this in mind, it's easy to see why this movie won the 1946 Oscar for "Best Cinematography - Color" and was also Oscar nominated for the "Best Art Direction - Interior Decoration" award.
The story which is recounted in flashback, describes the circumstances which led to successful author Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) being sentenced to a term in prison. Shortly after meeting Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney) on a train journey, Richard becomes captivated by her and they gradually become closer until one day she stops wearing her engagement ring. Shortly after this, her ex-fiancé Russell Quinton (Vincent Price) calls to offer his congratulations on her forthcoming marriage. Ellen introduces him to Richard who was unaware of any marriage plans but just passively plays along with what's happening. Later, Ellen proposes to Richard and he accepts.
After their marriage, Ellen gets to know Richard's younger brother Danny (Darryl Hickman) who's recovering from polio. She's very attentive and helps him to start walking again with the use of crutches. This achievement clears the way for Danny to be released from residential care and to go to stay with Ellen and Richard at Richard's lodge called "Back Of The Moon". At the lodge, Ellen starts to become resentful of the time that Richard spends writing and irritated by the constant presence of Danny and Thorne (Chill Wills) who is a woodsman and old family friend. Her discontent worsens when her mother and adopted sister Ruth (Jeanne Crain) arrive for a surprise visit. Ellen's mother and Ruth cut their visit short as it becomes clear to them that Ellen does not welcome their presence. Richard becomes unhappy about how Ellen has treated her family and in a heated conversation she accuses him of being in love with Ruth.
During a later incident at the lake near to the lodge, Danny is drowned and following this, the couple move to Ellen's mother's home and Richard becomes very depressed and abandons his writing. He returns to a more positive frame of mind when Ellen becomes pregnant but another incident leads to her losing the baby.
Some time later, when Richard's new book is published, Ellen is furious when she sees that it has been dedicated to Ruth. Richard and Ellen have an argument during which she admits the roles she played in the deaths of Danny and their unborn baby. Richard then leaves her but is called back to the house when she is suddenly taken ill. Ellen dies and a dramatic court case follows during which Ruth is charged with poisoning Ellen and the prosecutor is Russell Quinton. Ruth is found "not guilty" but Richard is sentenced to imprisonment for withholding knowledge of Ellen's crimes and in so doing, being an accessory.
Ellen's initial attraction to Richard was based on his resemblance to her late father and her subsequent need to constantly have his exclusive attention became a powerfully destructive force.
"Leave Her To Heaven" is a memorable melodrama in which Gene Tierney gives an exceptional (Oscar nominated) performance as a woman whose extreme jealousy and possessiveness propel her into a series of insane acts which ultimately damage the lives of everyone around her. The precise nature of her psychosis gradually becomes clear as the action progresses and the performance of Jeanne Crain is also very praiseworthy.
"Leave Her To Heaven" is a veritable feast of colour, costumes and drama and makes a great visual impact right from the start. Bearing this in mind, it's easy to see why this movie won the 1946 Oscar for "Best Cinematography - Color" and was also Oscar nominated for the "Best Art Direction - Interior Decoration" award.
The story which is recounted in flashback, describes the circumstances which led to successful author Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) being sentenced to a term in prison. Shortly after meeting Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney) on a train journey, Richard becomes captivated by her and they gradually become closer until one day she stops wearing her engagement ring. Shortly after this, her ex-fiancé Russell Quinton (Vincent Price) calls to offer his congratulations on her forthcoming marriage. Ellen introduces him to Richard who was unaware of any marriage plans but just passively plays along with what's happening. Later, Ellen proposes to Richard and he accepts.
After their marriage, Ellen gets to know Richard's younger brother Danny (Darryl Hickman) who's recovering from polio. She's very attentive and helps him to start walking again with the use of crutches. This achievement clears the way for Danny to be released from residential care and to go to stay with Ellen and Richard at Richard's lodge called "Back Of The Moon". At the lodge, Ellen starts to become resentful of the time that Richard spends writing and irritated by the constant presence of Danny and Thorne (Chill Wills) who is a woodsman and old family friend. Her discontent worsens when her mother and adopted sister Ruth (Jeanne Crain) arrive for a surprise visit. Ellen's mother and Ruth cut their visit short as it becomes clear to them that Ellen does not welcome their presence. Richard becomes unhappy about how Ellen has treated her family and in a heated conversation she accuses him of being in love with Ruth.
During a later incident at the lake near to the lodge, Danny is drowned and following this, the couple move to Ellen's mother's home and Richard becomes very depressed and abandons his writing. He returns to a more positive frame of mind when Ellen becomes pregnant but another incident leads to her losing the baby.
Some time later, when Richard's new book is published, Ellen is furious when she sees that it has been dedicated to Ruth. Richard and Ellen have an argument during which she admits the roles she played in the deaths of Danny and their unborn baby. Richard then leaves her but is called back to the house when she is suddenly taken ill. Ellen dies and a dramatic court case follows during which Ruth is charged with poisoning Ellen and the prosecutor is Russell Quinton. Ruth is found "not guilty" but Richard is sentenced to imprisonment for withholding knowledge of Ellen's crimes and in so doing, being an accessory.
Ellen's initial attraction to Richard was based on his resemblance to her late father and her subsequent need to constantly have his exclusive attention became a powerfully destructive force.
"Leave Her To Heaven" is a memorable melodrama in which Gene Tierney gives an exceptional (Oscar nominated) performance as a woman whose extreme jealousy and possessiveness propel her into a series of insane acts which ultimately damage the lives of everyone around her. The precise nature of her psychosis gradually becomes clear as the action progresses and the performance of Jeanne Crain is also very praiseworthy.