Leave Her to Heaven (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Semi-spoilers:I had no idea before seeing this film that it would turn me into a John M. Stahl fan.This movie, which I did not know too much about, is filled, beyond simple coincidence, with subtly remarkable moments of certain 'feelings', or, certain 'vibrations', that are, on some unspoken level of awareness, passing between the characters throughout the film. Not all identical really, but many are similarly dark or unsettling and the whole narrative is continually alternating between the cordant and the discordant. And yes, all the remarkably talented actors here are clearly the ones generating these vibes, but it's Stahl's surehanded direction that is presenting that to us in a way that's as equally unmistakable as it is mysterious. It is itself a subtext to the story and yet also IS the story. But, it's done so deftly and transparently that you never get the feeling that you're being 'guided' to the heart of it, so much as you are simply able to witness it as if you were there.The only 'obvious' style in the directing is actually all the striking use of color and, with our rapt attention focused on that, the subtilty of his treatment of what's passing between the characters goes to work on us in its intended invisible way. I find all that an accomplishment rivaling almost anything Hitchcock ever did. And yet, color aside, there is nothing intentionally "dazzling" about it here. It doesn't seek to enhance the proceedings by towering over them, it's only there to serve the effectiveness of the storytelling and highlight the meaning.In the end just how the main character came to be so uniquely monstrous is never fully explained. And after witnessing what might be passing between these characters, after you've seen this haunting movie and I don't want to give away too much here, you may indeed be left wondering if it's possible to feel sympathy for a monster. But in this story, maybe the real answer to that question of course, is something we must ultimately leave to heaven.Said to be one of Scorsese's favorites. And now also one of mine. Criterion's transfer is stellar in both picture and sound.Quite a remarkable film!

Great movie and actors. Definitely a Noir movie although it's in color! The quality of the DVD is excellent.

After years of this movie only being available on the 20th Century DVD edition, and again on the limited edition run of the now out of business Twilight Time Movies, we have the CRITERION Blu-ray!Many of Gene Tierney's movies are now available on the HD format Blu-ray and I am one of her many fans.Gene was a fabulous actress, after debuting in THE RETURN OF FRANK JAMES with Henry Fonda, she made a decision to start smoking to make her voice on screen more deeper. She herself said that when she saw the movie, she sounded like an angry Minnie Mouse and wanted to change that going forward.For LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN, in which she was nominated for Best Actress (and lost to Joan Crawford for Mildred Pierce), Gene gave one of her all time best performances. I love most of her movies, the more dramatic ones, and she really was fabulous. Her decline was in the '50s when she co-starred with Humphrey Bogart in 1955's THE LEFT HAND OF GOD.Gene was at her height of celebrity status as a movie star. The mid 1940s was IT for her. Looking back on that era, I would say GENE was an IT girl from the '40s, hands down! The other two were the obvious Betty Grable, and Rita Hayworth for the most popular of the decade.JEANNE CRAIN gives a great co-starring role here and she would go on in her own right as an actress.The movie has never looked better. I have to give thumbs up for CRITERION for coming out with this.I do have to say the special features could have been better, though. I mean, all you can come up with is theTheatrical Trailer and an Interview from a Film critic?So, in that regard, I am a bit disappointed, but the movie itself and the overall packaging is outstanding.Find a good deal on this one and add it to your GENE TIERNEY movie library!** Special Features are limited on this Criterion EditionTheatrical TrailerIMOGEN SARA SMITH interview from Nov 2019 in which she discusses Film Noir of the era and the movie.

When Turner Classic Movies began their Saturday night "Essential" film series, "Leave Her to Heaven" was one of the first films chosen to represent both the mid-1940s and film noir classics. The Criterion Collection transfer is excellent, especially in capturing the breath-taking use of color that becomes essentially one of the main "characters" in the film. I have been a Gene Tierney fan for years, but my favorite films have been "Laura" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" in which the incredibly beautiful actress plays sympathetic roles. I did not know if I wanted to invest in a film in which she plays a truly evil person. The incredible color cinematography (that won an Oscar) along with the great acting and superior direction have won me over. Tierney received her only Oscar nomination (Best Actress) for this film and she deserved not just the nomination but should have been a worthy winner. This is truly a great mystery drama well worth watching multiple times.

Subtle and brilliant noir with brilliant performances and what might be the most sympathetic, believable, and well-developed femme fatales I’ve seen. Her actions are relatable and her crimes chillingly passive.My only complaint is the unrealistic and even stupid last minute and a half, but this hardly takes away from the rest of the film.

This film is considered to be in the Noir genre and it does have that "dark" feel to it, but not because of the look, which is in brilliant technicolor. The use of color throughout the film is stunning. The sumptuous sets and costumes and locations is a feast for the eyes. The story, which I won't give away here, is dastardly and disturbing. The final court room scene is almost surreal in its heightened style. This film was such an unusual surprise and worth adding to your classic film collection.

A totally unique and fascinating film. Criterion has provided a pristine transfer and less than stellar supplements.

Wonderful

I thought the acting was great! I enjoyed the story very much!

Basically a film noir in magnificent colour, it follows a well-to-do young woman who marries a famous novelist, and the eventual violent and obsessive in her when the novelists younger brother with polio begins to get in the way and cramp her style. Gene Tierney is excellent. The Criterion restoration is stellar, with crisp images in beautiful intense colours.