Leave Her to Heaven, or She Will Kill You on the Way to Hell



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 Comcast OnDemand free movie: Leave Her to Heaven is a 1945 classic. This is now playing on Comcast OnDemand and is a Technicolor delight.  Originally released in black and white, this Technicolor 110 minute feature looks superb.

Turner Classic Movies selected this classic thriller.  The movie tells the story of a Jealous woman named Ellen Berent Harland and the affects of her life-sucking love. Ellen's need to possess the people she loves drives her to carry out cruel and violent acts.  Ellen, the main character, is played by actress Gene Tierney and the supporting cast submit themselves to her presence making the suspense an emotional ride.  Vincent Price is cast as her jilted lover, Russell Quinton.  It was hard for me not to see him as the creep in all the horror films.  I was glad his appearances were fairly brief, but very intricate to the story.  His character Russell displays the yearning of a love unfulfilled when Ellen obsesses over a person, who is not you. 



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Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Mary Philips and Darryl Hickman are the remainder of the supporting cast.  Cornel Wilde plays Richard Harland, Ellen's husband.  Jeanne Crain plays Ruth Berent, Ellen's sister and Mary Philips is Ellen's mother, Mrs. Berent.  Darryl Hickman plays Richard's sick teenage brother, Danny Harland. 

Each character is placed against Ellen's psychotic behavior to illustrate her love and her hate.  Ellen attaches herself to Richard Harland because he reminds her of her dead father, the first fatal victim of her love.  Ellen's family along with Richard's work and family are perceived to be interferences by Ellen and she systematically tries to remove each one.  Her tactics are chilling and downright dirty! 

Just when you think the movie is over Ellen has her final hurrah.  She continues to torture her family from a very far distance.  One of the opening scenes is below, it is when Ellen and Richard meet.  The movie begins rather slow, but builds momentum as the movie unfolds. 

If you like classic movies this would be a decent one to catch while it is free OnDemand with Comcast.  If you do not like classics, why don't you give this a try.  The costumes are outstanding, the Technicolor is awesome and the sets are classic Hollywood.  This is a good story. 

Mental illness is a barrier to spiritual well being.  Many people suffer from unhealthy infatuations that cause suffering for themselves and everyone in their circle. 

I give the movie 3 out of 5 stars or a C+

*****