Obsessed

Obsessed

source: Obsessed

Moviecut—Obsessed

Titled Obsessed (1951) on imdb, but called the Late Edwina Black on British Movie Channel. Stars geraldine fitzgerald, david farrar. When the wife dies suddenly under suspicious circumstances, the inspector from scotland yard is brought in to investigate. Who might have done her in...? Round up the usual suspects, while he snoops around. It's a little slow by today's standards, but it holds together. This started as a play in england, ran briefly in new york, and was made into film in 1949, 1951, 1964, and 1968. The 1951 version is known as obsessed in the united states. Directed by maurice elvey, an early director in silent british films, many of which were lost or destroyed.

THE LATE EDWINA BLACK (aka: OBSESSED) opens with the untimely demise of the title character. At the funeral, some of the "mourners" give the distinct impression that the departed won't exactly be missed. We quickly learn that something is going on between the late Edwina's husband, Gregory (David Farrar) and her companion, Elizabeth (Geraldine Fitzgerald). In fact, they're already planning their wedding! Before the two lovebirds can set off on their nuptial journey, a certain Inspector from Scotland Yard (Roland Culver) shows up, asking questions and making a right nuisance of himself! There's also the frighteningly devoted Ellen (Jean Cadell), who has turned Edwina's room into a sort of shrine. She's like an elderly version of Mrs. Danvers from REBECCA! With suspicion thick in the air of the house, a ghostly presence seems to lurk in the place. Strange, coincidental occurrences prove to be quite unnerving for Gregory and Elizabeth, and could lead to their undoing. The summation of all this is worth the wait, and completely unexpected! A fantastic, suspenseful drama, with elements of horror tossed in for flavor...

Yes, only an hour and 18 minutes. But would you believe it was too long? It started off at a good pace, and finished nicely, but in the middle as the two romantic leads began arguing about which of them killed Edwina it just went on and on. I guess it had to, but it got a bit monotonous for a bit. I'm always very enamored with OLD British films, but this one is pretty decent. The plot is simple: A companion is suspected in killing her mistress with arsenic. But so is the husband. And the companion and husband are lovers. Scotland Yard to the rescue. But the crux of the film is the two lovers suspecting each other of the murder. David Farrar is pretty decent as the husband. But it's Geraldine Fitzgerald as the companion that stands out here. I remember Fitzgerald best from her supporting roles in "Dark Victory" and "Till We Meet Again". Roland Culver is satisfactory as the inspector from Scotland Yard. I would have to say that Jean Cadell overplays her role a bit. It's only a bit over an hour, so take a chance of this flick. Better than expected.

Suspicion falls on widower David Farrar and his pert young mistress (Geraldine Fitzgerald) when his sickly, shrewish wife dies of arsenic poisoning. Veteran director Maurice Elvey creates a nicely ominous atmosphere as the ghostly influence of the dead woman seems to pit the lovers against one another, but the middle act, in which Farrar and Fitzgerald grow increasingly suspicious of the other's possible motive for murder, tends to drag. Roland Culver as a dogged, no-nonsense Scotland Yard detective livens things up considerably.

This rather claustrophobic British mystery opens on the death of a chronically ill woman, Edwina Black during Victorian/Edwardian times. She is a wealthy woman, and leaves behind a large estate. We quickly learn that Edwina's widower, Gregory, and Edwina's companion, Elizabeth (Geraldine Fitzgerald) are lovers and plan to sell the house and move to London as soon as possible, marry, and honeymoon in Venice. Both Gregory and Elizabeth have no money of their own. There is also a housekeeper/nurse who has been with Edwina for years who sees what Gregory and Elizabeth have been up to, and is suspicious of their involvement in Edwina's death. Soon her suspicions have her wagging her tongue to the village folks, and Scotland Yard is brought in to investigate Edwina's death. Post mortem shows she died of arsenic poisoning, not the heart attack originally thought to be the cause of death. And so the. Inspector (Roland Culver) begins digging, and Gregory and Elizabeth are stuck there in this dark house full of bad memories until the investigation is over. This film is rather claustrophobic, with almost all of the action taking place in the large Black estate. You never actually SEE Edwina. The short time she was alive she was behind the door of her bedroom. So all we know about her we get from listening to the three people who lived with her. From the beginning Elizabeth has felt Edwina is haunting the house, looking for a way to get back at them. And on top of it all, now both Gregory and Elizabeth are wondering if the other actually did poison Edwina, and would they be next if the actual murderer wanted to hang the killing on them. Roland Culver is very good as the inspector. Where do all of these British films come up with such thorough cops with nerves of steel and great observation powers? For once, this is a film that works for Geraldine Fitzgerald. I never felt that Warner Brothers quite knew what to do with her. I'd recommend it.

This is a fine thriller well acted and directed.Jean Cadell does a fine job of scaring the life out of everyone.Veteran director Maurice Elvey does a fine job of sustaining suspense despite the fact that there are only three suspects.Roland Culver is the diligent detective who bit by bit manages to deduce what happened and whodunnit.The ending is a bit of a surprise.