Possessed (1947)
Genre: Filmnoir / Drama
Duration: 108 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Curtis Bernhardt
Stars: Joan Crawford, Van Heflin and Raymond Massey
IMDb score:
7,1 (6.350)
Releasedate: 29 May 1947
Possessed plot
"In all your life you've seen no portrayals to match the thrill of the unquenchable love of Joan Crawford for Van Heflin in "Possessed"!"
Louise (Joan Crawford) is a frustrated and unstable nurse, who becomes entangled in a loveless marriage and then seeks love outside the door in vain. Her agony is told in flashbacks from the psychiatric hospital where she was admitted for schizophrenia.
Actors and actresses
Louise Howell
David Sutton
Dean Graham
Carol Graham
Dr. Willard
Chief investigator of drowning
Dr. Ames - Mrs. Smith's psychiatrist
Dr. Sherman - Graham's physician at inquest
Wynn Graham
Walter Sveldon - pianist
Reviews & comments
The One Ring
-
- 29974 messages
- 4109 votes
A striking element of this film noir is that it contains no real villains. The murderous main character is driven by delusion and not by evil. Van Heflin's character is the "homme fatale" in a way, has his quirks (he's not the epitome of commitment), but also can't be accused of cheating on Louise, as he was very honest. The other characters are even more innocent. Possessed is ultimately a tragedy as so many noirs are and also has the feel and style of the genre, but is more like melodramas inwardly.
Anyway, he doesn't cut a bad figure. It belongs to the less predictable films in both genres and I really appreciated the calm build-up. This film really gets under the skin of the main character and also manages to strike a good balance between showing her delusions and what really happens. The three biggest roles are perfectly cast. I don't usually like hysterical female roles like the one Crawford has here, but Crawford has a slightly crazy vibe of her own that makes it work here. Heflin is very entertaining but also believable, while Raymond Massey is the heart of the film, something I didn't see coming soon. The director, Curtis Bernhardt, is unknown to me, but he makes good use of the expressionist atmosphere to convey a sense of schizophrenia and some more general unease.
A somewhat underexposed pearl from the noir genre.
4*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Movsin
-
- 8286 messages
- 8442 votes
The story of a mentally ill woman. Most curiously, in the end (and one could kind of see it coming) the film emphasizes the existence of such diseases and the need for appropriate treatment, rather than the story itself. A medical decision is therefore the end of the film.. Obviously the reason why the whole event is explained from a psychiatric hospital with flashbacks.
A good film with a solid structure that keeps the intrigue interesting until the end. Joan Crawford can fully enjoy her varied role.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Ebenezer Scrooge
-
- 2150 messages
- 3092 votes
Madness on the silver screen, someone should actually write a book about it. A book in which this film should not be missed.
Joan Crawford stars from heaven in this beautifully shot film noir; you hardly miss color, because the symbiosis of shadow and light is truly brilliant. The film looks rich and atmospheric.
Mystical; in my opinion the best description for a piece of art like this.
Special, inventive camera work and points of view that you don't see these days.
The psychiatrist's explanation at the end is reminiscent of the end of Psycho.
Schizophrenia, would also have been a nice title, but perhaps too controversial for the time, Possessed might be better after all.
It may well be that the scene in which Crawford flicks a Zippo lighter on and off, almost mindlessly, inspired a scene in Fatal Attraction: Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) lying on the bed turning the light on and off.
Also such a beautiful film about madness, by the way.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Trending Movies
Corporate & Media
Realtimes Network
Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31(315)-764002
