It's obvious that this "poison Ivy" was born to be bad as evidenced by the glance she gives strictly to the camera in the scenes where she has to show the audience what she's really thinking. From the start, it's apparent that the character Joan Fontaine is playing is a complete social climber, pretending to be happily married to Richard Ney, but desperately wanting to be wealthy and free of her rather ordinary husband. she has her eyes set on successful doctor Patric Knowles, who's not exactly wealthy but certainly better off than her working-class hubby. Manipulating time with the busy doctor who is completely enamored of her, she begins to learn about the various poisons he keeps and when she decides it's time to get rid of her husband, some of the poison conveniently disappears. Before you know it, Knowles is on trial for murder (thanks to evidence pointing in his direction), and Fontaine is playing rather well the grieving widow.
Intriguing but not exactly suspenseful, this period melodrama features Fontaine quite different than she had been ever before. She was strong-willed and in control in "Frenchman's Creek", but this is a far cry from that performance, let alone the second Mrs. De Winter in "Rebecca" and all those other films where she played timid heroines. Had this been made in England, it would have started Margaret Lockwood whose beauty could either show vulnerability or sinister evil quite easily. Fontaine's gentle demeanor isn't exactly the key to unlocking an evil soul, and that's what makes her performance all the more interesting.
Richard Ney as the husband is rather dull and Patric Knowles rather unremarkable. Third billed Herbert Marshall really has nothing to do but become the goal ultimate wealth that Fontaine is driving for through her conniving. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is the only male member of the cast who has any real strength as the investigator behind Ney's death. that puts the bulk of the great supporting performances in the other woman's hands, particularly Lucile Watson as Knowles' devoted mother, Sarah Allgood as his maid, and Rosalind Ivan as Fontaine's maid. It is gorgeously filmed and directed by Sam Wood, but there was an obviousness about it that makes it rather shady and empty. A great promise for a fabulous climax will keep you glued for the finish.
Intriguing but not exactly suspenseful, this period melodrama features Fontaine quite different than she had been ever before. She was strong-willed and in control in "Frenchman's Creek", but this is a far cry from that performance, let alone the second Mrs. De Winter in "Rebecca" and all those other films where she played timid heroines. Had this been made in England, it would have started Margaret Lockwood whose beauty could either show vulnerability or sinister evil quite easily. Fontaine's gentle demeanor isn't exactly the key to unlocking an evil soul, and that's what makes her performance all the more interesting.
Richard Ney as the husband is rather dull and Patric Knowles rather unremarkable. Third billed Herbert Marshall really has nothing to do but become the goal ultimate wealth that Fontaine is driving for through her conniving. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is the only male member of the cast who has any real strength as the investigator behind Ney's death. that puts the bulk of the great supporting performances in the other woman's hands, particularly Lucile Watson as Knowles' devoted mother, Sarah Allgood as his maid, and Rosalind Ivan as Fontaine's maid. It is gorgeously filmed and directed by Sam Wood, but there was an obviousness about it that makes it rather shady and empty. A great promise for a fabulous climax will keep you glued for the finish.