Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
I plan to screen Leave Her To Heaven again after many years but first played the DVD commentary partially narrated by Darryl Hickman. It was interesting because “Mr. Narcissus” spoke about some of HIS scenes, HIS acting school, and his childhood friends Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowell but he spent most of the time commenting on the superiority of method acting and how Gene Tierney and Jeanne Crain were bad actors. He said he felt distant from her on the set. Well her character was supposed to be aloof and hated Darryl’s character (you will too). Isn’t that being a bit “Method,” Mr. Hickman?
Furthermore do we remember him? Darryl is no Shirley Temple, Roddy McDowell, or Dean Stockwell as child actors go. Miss “bad actress” Gene Tierney is still remembered. Her film starring roles: Laura, Leave Her to Heaven, The Razor’s Edge, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Heaven Can Wait are classics. Hickman’s can’t even compare to “lesser” actress Jeanne Crain’s career: Pinky, Cheaper By the Dozen, and A Letter to 3 wives. Yeah he has a point. Crain really wasn’t a good actress but she was popular in the 40s and 50s and had “it.” While not as good an actress as Tierney, even Crain was a leading lady responsible for holding a picture and has her faithful fans including myself.
Okay I’m being harsh on Hickman but Gene is one of my favorite stars from the era and the most beautiful in my opinion. Look at those high cheekbones, strong jaw, full lips. Oh my, I’m describing myself. Haha in my dreams.
I remember Leave Her to Heaven as Technicolor direction by Leon Shamroy at it’s best. Tierney deserved her Oscar-nomination for best actress as the mentally disturbed Ellen. A year earlier, Tierney had a daughter Daria, with then husband Oleg Cassini. Daria was born deaf, blind and mentally retarded due to pregnant Tierney’s encounter with a fan with German measles who had left quarantine just to see her favorite star. So just maybe Mr. Hickman, Gene was aloof because she was guilt-ridden over her child’s situation. Anyone who is in the know of Hollywood stories knows the Gene Tierney story.
Anyway Leave Her to Heaven has great Oscar winning cinematography and color with Oscar-nominated actors Cornel Wilde, Gene Tierney, and Jeanne Crain. It also stars Vincent Price. Oh and let’s not forget the Daytime Emmy-nominated what’s his name….Darryl????
Available on Netflix.
Hi-
Just watched this film. [http://iamyouasheisme.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/leave-her-to-heaven/] Fantastic! Gene Tierney is amazing.
I never listen to those DVD commentaries. Your post confirms me in my lack of interest.
L
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I absolutely LOVE this movie, “Leave Her to Heaven.” I first saw it about two years ago on the Fox Movie Channel and have since, seen it 3 more times. I have never heard of Gene Tierney before I saw this movie. I was born in the late 1970’s, so I wasn’t around when all of these great, classic films were made. Thank God for TCM (Turner Classic Movie) channel and the Fox Movie channel. Because of these two great channels, especially TCM, I am able to watch all of these superb films made before my parents were even born. I love to watch any films made in the 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s. My all-time favorite movies are those made in the 1940’s though.
Since watching “Leave Her to Heaven,” I have had the chance to watch other Gene Tierney movies and she is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite actress. She is extremely beautiful and she is a very good actress and she is also so poised on screen. I loved her in “Laura.” I have now seen quite a few movies starring the beautiful and talented Gene Tierney. Some of my favorite Gene Tierney movies are: “Leave Her to Heaven”, “Laura”, “Razor’s Edge”, “Belle Starr.” I still need to see “Heaven Help Her” and “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.”
I have looked up several websites that are about Gene Tierney and I have read about her life. I also have seen lots of her beautiful photos and have downloaded them to my computer. I want to read her autobiography and the biography that was written about her, but unfortunately, my library does not have either. I am also reading about other great actors/actresses from the “Glamorous Hollywood Era.” I have been watching a lot of movies on TCM and the films that I have seen have been the BEST movies that I have ever seen. I don’t really care for movies that Hollywood produces now…..there is always too much cussing and gratuitous sex scenes. The classic movies don’t have all of the bad language and “soft-porn” like scenes. I always say that I was born in the wrong decade, because the things that I like are the classic things, like movies and music and fashion.
But, back to Gene Tierney’s performance in “Leave Her to Heaven,” she should have won the Oscar that year. I also recently saw “Mildred Pierce” starring Joan Crawford, and she won the Oscar for “Mildred Pierce” over Gene Tierney, but Joan Crawford also delivered an Oscar winning performance too. Too bad that they both could not have won that year….lol. If you compare Gene’s performance in “Leave Her to Heaven” to her other film performances, then you will see just how good her acting was. She played a character unlike her other characters, like in “Laura.” She did an exceptional job at playing a psychologically unhinged, jealous woman. Her performance in that movie blew me away. I am a Gene Tierney fan for life!!!!!
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Gene Eliza Tierney remains the most beautiful woman to exist and was indeed a fine actress.
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