Review of Leave Her to Heaven (1945) by David M — 17 Feb 2015

Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

(1945) Leave Her To Heaven.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA.

From the Ben Ames Williams novel starring Cornel Wilde as accomplished novelist, Richard Harland beginning to notice wealthy socialite, Ellen Berent Harland (Gene Tierney) while sitting across from her while on a train. And coincidently, they also happen to be going to the same destination, but are going there for different reasons. Richard was an invited guest to Ellen's family while she's going there for the memoriam funeral of her late father. Things start to get complicated as soon as Ellen proposes marriage to Ben since he reminds her of her late father. Winner of an Oscar for Best Cinematography in color out of 4 nominations.

After watching this movie, I totally sympathize with the Gene Tierney character for some reason and at the same time thought that the real fault for whatever happened is really her husband's, since when is it a rule that when two people physically get married, that other family members, in this case the husband's very young brother, or his wife's in-laws for that matter are supposed to move in with them too, or in some instance come to stay with them for as long as they want. Where is the notion that woman have rights too since she was neither asked by the husband whether she'd approve of this? Because even during at that time, even though they had the right to vote they were still treated as second class citizens, as it's shown on this film in which the husband is portrayed as inconsiderate of his wife's mental state. The setting takes place in the United States and not on some other foreign country where relatives have to come in to move in with them immediately after marriage. I think that theirs just as much blame from the husband's as much as anyone else's who's a mature adult. I, myself would not want my wife's sister/ brother or in-laws moving in or staying with me unless she's consented with me first and vice versa. Therefore, the entire experience seems so unfairly one -sided.

2.5 out of 4 stars.