Reviews
John Chard

John Chard

December 19, 2013
8.0
Evil influences are gathering. Ivy is directed by Sam Wood and adapted to screenplay by Charles Bennett from the novel The Story of Ivy written by Marie Belloc Lowndes. It stars Joan Fontaine, Patric Knowles, Herbert Marshall, Richard Ney, Cedric Hardwicke and Lucile Watson. Music is by Daniele Amfitheatrof and cinematography by Russell Metty. Ivy Lexton (Fontaine) has a hunger to be wealthy, and setting her sights on well-to-do Miles Rushworth (Marshall), Ivy plots a fiendish plan that spells trouble for her husband Jervis (Ney) and her lover Roger (Knowles). Well worth discovering, Ivy showcases the dark side of Fontaine’s acting prowess for great entertainment rewards. The beautiful Madame Fontaine actually disowned the movie, and this after she stepped in to the role of Ivy Lexton after her sister Olivia de Havilland turned it down. Her lack of affection for the picture goes some way to explaining why it has remained largely forgotten, which is a shame because it’s a high end gaslight noir propelled by a femme fatale of some considerable substance. The budget was high, and it shows, in the cast list, the costuming and the stunning turn of the century production design by William Cameron Menzies. Metty’s low-key photography cloaks the Edwardian settings with atmospheric snugness, while Amfitheatrof underscores the drama with music that is appropriately tinged with chills. Thematically the piece is focusing on obsessions, by way of man’s ignorant lust and woman’s pursuit of wealth above all else. All characters are defined not by fate here, but by their actions, making for a hornet’s nest of murder and adultery. 1947 was a stellar year for film noir, with big hitting movies like Out of the Past, Nightmare Alley, Kiss of Death, Odd Man Out and Brighton Rock further cementing the growing popularity of noir as a style of film making. As is often the case with the great noir years from the classic cycle, there’s still little gems hidden away waiting to be brought out into the open, Ivy is one such film. Fontaine and the sumptuous noir visual style ensure this to be the case. 8/10

Recommendation Movies

6.8
Crime
View
6.8
Pretty Poison
Pretty Poison1968
6.4
Thriller
View
6.4
The Lodger
The Lodger1944
5.7
Science Fiction
View
5.7
Countdown
Countdown1967
7
Animation
View
7
Kung Fu Panda 4
Kung Fu Panda 42024
7.4
Comedy
View
7.4
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood2019
6.8
Horror
View
6.8
Barbarian
Barbarian2022
7.9
Animation
View
7.9
Up
Up2009
7.7
Science Fiction
View
7.7
Poor Things
Poor Things2023
7.2
Action
View
7.2
Tenet
Tenet2020
6.2
Romance
View
6.2
Your Place or Mine
Your Place or Mine2023
7.7
Action
View
7.7
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine2024
7.6
Science Fiction
View
7.6
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water2022
6.6
Comedy
View
6.6
The Invisible Thread
The Invisible Thread2022
7.1
Horror
View
7.1
Talk to Me
Talk to Me2023
6.9
Adventure
View
6.9
Mulan
Mulan2020
6.9
Horror
View
6.9
Evil Dead Rise
Evil Dead Rise2023
7.6
Animation
View
7.6
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie2023
6.1
Science Fiction
View
6.1
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver2024
4.6
Comedy
View
4.6
The Bubble
The Bubble2022
7.8
Drama
View
7.8
The Whale
The Whale2022
© 2024 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt