Pinot Noir #11
Film Club Tonight: LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN
Tonight we watch a film that may disguise itself as a romance but believe me, it’s a noir through and through. From 1945, starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, and Vincent Price, it’s the film my mom calls “very disturbing”… Leave Her To Heaven!!
Do not be fooled by the first half of this movie!! This is an absolute thriller! What begins and ends with a canoe, is one of the most wild rides I’ve ever been on, and I’ve been on a canoe on a windy day in Minnesota! We’ve watched “women’s pictures” before that had a noir angle, like Mildred Pierce*, but this takes it in a completely direction with a femme fetale (played by Gene Tierney) who cannot stop killing for love. Some people have gone as far as to refer to this movie as a 1940s Gone Girl… I’m not totally sold but I guess I could see it!
Don’t hate me but I didn’t have time to make a video to introduce this movie, but I still have a lot to say. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Ben Ames Williams. 20th Century Fox spent an unreal amount of money on the book rights, something unheard of at the time, $100,000 before the book had even hit the shelves. And it paid off! Leave Her To Heaven grossed over $8 million at the box office, becoming the highest grossing film for 20th Century Fox for an entire decade.
The interesting part of this movie is the brilliant technicolor use on such a dark film. We’ve watched film noirs that were in color, but the color in this film is veery intense and almost at odds with the genre… which makes it so fantastic!
As you watch tonight, keep an eye out for a lot of the references to Greek mythology throughout the film. Tierney’s character has been referred to as having an “Electra complex,” as well as being a visual reference to Hippolyta.
*Tierney actually lost to Joan Crawford at the Oscars that year for her role of Mildred Pierce
Where to watch:
You can find Leave Her To Heaven for free (but with commercials) Plex. Also if you have a subscription to the Criterion Collection, it’s in there! It’s available to rent on most platforms, or always for free on archive.org!
NEW! SOMETHING NEW!
Inspired by one of my readers Elizabeth (Thank you Elizabeth!!!) I’m adding a new portion to Pinot Noir… sketches of the movie! If it inspires you, draw scenes from the movie while watching! It’s a great way to practice live drawing from the comfort of your couch. And what a great subject Gene Tierney and her sunglasses are!
Come back to discuss!
I’ll start a Subscribers chat thread tonight at 8 PM EST to discuss the film and share our drawings!
