Possessed (1947)

The Ever Classic Crawford

POSSESSED (1947) is a somewhat underrated Warner Bros. film noir! With an
excellent central performance from its star Joan Crawford this highly charged drama should be better thought of than it is and deserving of much
more exposure. It is one of Crawford's best pictures so this overdue
release on DVD is something of an event.

Crawford, fresh from winning an Acadamy Award for "Mildred Pierce" looked
as if she was trying for another one here and was even nominated for her well measured portrayal of a neurotic private nurse in the employ of Ramond Massey, but she is unable to deal with the intensity and frustration of her unrequited love for a young engineer (Van Heflin). It eventually gets all too much for her and she finally snaps culminating in a tragic last reel.
Crawford gives one of her great wide-eyed antagonistic performances with
fine support from Van Heflin, Raymond Massey (in one of his more amiable
roles), Geraldine Brooks (whose previous picture for Warners just before this was her debut as Errol Flynn's younger sister in "Cry Wolf") and Stanley Ridges as Crawford's psychiatrist.

From a cracking screenplay by Silvia Richards and Ranald McDougall (who
also wrote "Mildred Pierce") The picture turned out to be a splendidly
absorbing drama thanks to the smooth and solid direction by Curtis
Bernhardt, the stylish and sharp monochrome cinematography of Joseph
Valentine, an effective score by the great Franz Waxman but most of all
to the outstanding performance of Miss Joan Crawford.

A nice package - extras include a 10 minute featurette on the Noir aspects
of "Possessed", a good commentary by Film Historian Drew Casper and an
excellent Trailer. July 1, 2008

Good film, excellent audio commentary

No comments to add about this excellent film (which pleased even this non-Crawford fan). I want to add a short remark about the audio commentary (by Drew Casper). These commentaries are sometimes a waste of time, but this one is exceptionally good; alone it is worth the price of the DVD. It's a long, well-prepared lecture on film noir generally and "Possessed" specifically; and it's excellent. Casper is a practiced speaker and the material he includes-- it covers everything from the German roots of film noir to his own meeting with Crawford-- is fascinating.

October 31, 2007

you could have your choice of men but I could never love again

After Joan left MGM she just made hit after hit after hit with Warners. "Possessed" was her third film with Warners and her second Oscar-Nominated role. Joan plays Louise Howell a woman on the brink of insanity. Joan actually plays the part of a kook very well. She is so believable because her acting is extremely dramatic. My favorite scene is the one where Louise pushes her lover's daughter down the steps. She was absolutely scary. As you may know, Joan made another picture (in 1931) with Clark Gable with this same title. Only an actress like Joan can star in two totally different films with the same title! Out of all of Joan's movies "Possessed" is certainly one of the very best (coming in just after Sudden Fear and Mildred Pierce (Keepcase).) You will love it! If you're interested in Joan's films from the 1940's, might I also recomend: Humoresque, Daisy Kenyon (this is not on DVD/VHS, however it is shown on TCM from time to time,) and Flamingo Road (1949). September 30, 2007

"I can be very objectionable..."

Joan Crawford delivers one of her greatest performances in POSSESSED, which easily ranks up there with "Mildred Pierce" and "Humoresque" as her best movie vehicle.

As the film opens, a mysterious woman wanders dazed through the streets of Los Angeles. She is later admitted into a psychiatric hospital where, under the influence of drugs, she reveals her identity and the reasons why she has collapsed into a complete nervous breakdown. Louise Howell (Crawford), a live-in nurse to the wealthy Graham family, harbours a not-very-subtle infatuation for neighbour David Sutton (Van Heflin). Stifled by her devotion, David quickly makes his exit. After the apparent suicide of Mrs Graham, Louise goes on to marry her employer (Raymond Massey), despite the hefty objections of his teenaged daughter Carol (Geraldine Brooks). Already teetering on the edge of her sanity, Louise begins to become paranoid over Mrs Graham's death; and when David announces his plans to marry Carol, it may just be the final straw...

Here in POSSESSED (directed by Curtis Bernhardt and based on a story by Rita Weiman), Joan Crawford delivers one of her most fascinating performances. Louise is a woman walking the knife-edge of sanity and complete mental annihilation; she handles the job brilliantly. Van Heflin, as the resident heel of the piece, does well too, but his character is so completely unsavoury that the audience doesn't really care too much about his fate. Raymond Massey likewise plays down his role of Mr Graham.

Most of the male roles in Joan Crawford movies are very forgettable; you are meant to focus your attention solely on Ms Crawford, but in POSSESSED, Joanie had some competion in Geraldine Brooks, who plays Graham's teenage daughter Carol. It's almost a rehash of the Crawford/Ann Blyth dynamic in "Mildred Pierce"; especially when Louise knocks Carol down the stairs in one of the movie's most memorable scenes...or does she? Brooks adds some much-needed fireworks to the film.

The DVD includes audio commentary with film historian Drew Casper, featurette "The Quintessential Film Noir", and the trailer. Fans of Crawford will adore this moodily-lit Noir masterpiece. Also available as part of The Joan Crawford Collection (Humoresque / Possessed (1947) / The Damned Don't Cry / The Women / Mildred Pierce) September 16, 2007

Possessed

A dark character study told in flashbacks, "Possessed" finds Joan Crawford doing what she does best: acting unhinged. Joan earned another Oscar nomination for it, but the supporting players also elevate the proceedings, primarily Heflin and Massey, both first-rate actors. The young Geraldine Brooks makes a radiant debut playing Massey's grown daughter. June 25, 2007

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